A common theme ran through some verses today in the Old and New Testament. You want something…work for it. Don’t be lazy.
There are people who want, want, want, but don’t “want” too work to get what they want.
Simple example…I want to have a flat and tone tummy. I want to workout to achieve that toned tummy. But I’m simply not self-motivated to do it on my own. So if I want it, I must work on it. If I want it, yet don’t discipline myself to have a tone tummy, then I have no reason to complain, and I should suck-it-up (literally) and be happy with the tummy I have.
Now there are definitely more examples like this that deal with “real work”. I have an old childhood friend that she wanted things in life (for herself, her kids, her family, etc.) and she would work two and three jobs to achieve the goals she wanted for her loved ones. Lisa was and still is a hard worker. I get exhausted just thinking about her. Did she succeed in reaching her goals? Yes. Why? She worked hard for it and didn’t expect others to provide it for her. You go, girl! She was disciplined and didn’t complain about all the hard work. I believe she had a long term goal in mind and that kept her focused.
We all have, or should have, goals in life. For a Christian, our goal should be like Paul’s and want to share Christ with others and help bring them to Christ. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:16b, “If I don’t tell people the Good News, I am in real trouble.” Then he proceeds to illustrate the need for self-discipline in verses 24-27 and says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Listen, we have been given life. We must live it for God, the One who gave it to us. We must be examples to others and work hard to succeed in telling others about Christ and in just plain ole living life. Don’t be lazy. Set goals. Focus on the prize in the end. Sure, they may be rewards here on earth for reaching your accomplishments, but the real prize is waiting for you in heaven. Your earthly prizes will fade away, but God has a reward for you that will last forever.
Okay, now I’m getting motivated to not only continue sharing my Lord and Savior with others but to go work on my self-discipline and tone that tummy. Time for sit-ups. (Trust me, now before and after pictures will be shown.)
Proverbs 21:25-26 (MSG)
Lazy people finally die of hunger
because they won’t get up and go to work.
Sinners are always wanting what they don’t have;
the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.
Blessings to you.
September 3, “Walking in the Word”