Getting Untired

 

Getting Untired

2 Thessalonians 3: ⁶ Our friends, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to keep away from all believers who are living a lazy life and who do not follow the instructions that we gave them. ⁷ You yourselves know very well that you should do just what we did. We were not lazy when we were with you. ⁸ We did not accept anyone's support without paying for it. Instead, we worked and toiled; we kept working day and night so as not to be an expense to any of you. ⁹ We did this, not because we do not have the right to demand our support; we did it to be an example for you to follow. ¹⁰ While we were with you, we used to tell you, “Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat.”

 

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Tired from staying out all night, I laid in bed. When I woke up, I realized I was supposed to open the office. I quickly got dressed and went to the office, only to be met by people who demanded my keys and my resignation.

 

• At first I wanted to blame those who gave me an early shift.
• I tried to rationalize why I needed to hang out versus being in and ready to work.
• I soon realized I was out of work and needed some income.

 

Paul, Silas and Timothy provide some strong words regarding “believers who are living a lazy life.” The people they spoke of refused to work or use their talents in any way. They may have believed in JESUS as the Savior, but would not lift a finger to tell others, or help those who were willing.

 

My Observations

• GOD cursed the earth after Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, causing mankind to have to work harder to eat and be comfortable.
• My view of “work” should not contain my identity, rather it is a function of eating and paying bills.
• When I work unto the LORD, the “work” is more pleasing and satisfying, because I am not doing it for tyrants or lazy people.

 

“Work” is something I tried to get out of doing for years. I mean, I would goof off and figure out ways to not work. I would then seek out others who wanted to have “fun”, dragging them into my laziness. BUT GOD wanted me awake.

 

HE woke me up and wanted me to be “an example” to people. HE wants me to spread HIS message, but to do it without needing money to do so. HE provides, so I can say “JESUS is LORD and I praise HIM!” I gladly get up for a job or run a business to ensure HIS Gospel is spread.

 

Challenge

• What do you think the “lazy life” is that the writers spoke about?
• Have you ever felt like giving up, or dreaming of not working?
• Will you seek GOD’s kingdom by spreading the Gospel and working to support yourself or others who will do the same?

Fighting the Struggle

Hosea 12: ³ In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
    as a man he struggled with God.
⁴ He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
    he wept and begged for his favor.
He found him at Bethel
    and talked with him there—
⁵ the Lord God Almighty,
    the Lord is his name!
⁶ But you must return to your God;
    maintain love and justice,
    and wait for your God always.

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“Why do I have to know who signed some document hundreds of years ago?” was my question as I struggled with the subject. I gave up on History. “Why do I have to pull myself up only to drop and do it again?” was my question as I struggled to do pullups in gym. I gave up on being strong. “Why do I have to read the Bible and go to church?” was my question as I struggled to balance time. I stepped away from GOD.

• In the past when something was a struggle I would give up.
• In the past when something was difficult I would cave in.
• In the past when something was hard to overcome I would let it get the best of me and quit.

It seemed like even following GOD was too difficult. I mean I tried to be perfect and found I could not, so I walked away. BUT GOD wanted me to see HIM differently.

• GOD wanted me to return to HIM so HE could open my eyes.
• GOD wanted me to maintain love and justice so HE could use the talents HE placed in me.
• GOD wanted me to wait on HIM so I could see the marvelous work HE had in store for me.

When I returned to GOD I found I had more time for HIM than I thought. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize I need HIM daily. I went back to attempting doing a pullup. I could only do one at first then two then many. I started to read the history of GOD’s people gaining understanding of where humans made mistakes. GOD was patient enough to take my struggles and turn them into victories!

• What are you struggling with?
• Do you find yourself on your own?
• Can you stop fighting GOD and turn your face to HIM?
• Will you allow HIM to help you with your battle today by focusing on HIM rather than the struggle?

Want a blessing today?

Deuteronomy 15: ¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

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Sitting in the “counselors” chair a homeless person sat across from me and had to hear the “Gospel of CHRIST” from me. He wreaked of booze but was coherent enough to answer my questions. During our anticipated and somewhat robotic conversation it dawned on me… I wasn’t getting through to him so I asked those in charge, “Do we really have to give this guy some food?”

• When I serve with a grudging heart, I am not at my best.
• When I give out of obligation I hurl my money at the need in a tantrum.
• When I expect a monetary blessing because I have served, I may be on the road to manipulation instead of gratitude.

Poor people will always be around me GOD says. HE wants to bless me, but sometimes I see what this person is going to do with “my” money and I become the judge and jury and provide a verdict that is not favorable for the person standing in front of me. I mean this person is a drunk and that person is a drug addict and that person won’t stop being whatever they are being. I mean shouldn’t “my” money go to someone who “deserves” it?

• GOD says to me “judge not and I won’t judge you.”
• GOD says to me “look beyond the messy person I delivered to you and give them your best.”
• GOD says to me “I know you are weary from giving but my grace is sufficient.”

Sometimes it’s hard to give because I am either not seeing the change I want to see fast enough or the ocean of people seems too great for “my” power. I may feel overwhelmed because the need seems too great. BUT GOD says to me “do what you can with what I have blessed you with for I have many servants.”

I must trust that GOD has plenty and that I am only one of many distribution points for HIS wealth. Yes, the wealth is not mine but HIS and HE wants to do with it as HE pleases.

• Are you giving with a grudging heart?
• Are you serving out of expectation from GOD?
• Can you give and serve without expecting something from GOD?
• Won’t you trust that HE will bless you the way HE wants to bless you, when HE wants to bless you?

GOD is concerned

Exodus 3: ⁷ The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. ⁸ So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

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Sitting in my apartment, staring out in space, life seemed to be a mess.  My grades were suffering.  It seemed as if every bill collector knew my phone number.  Then a knock on the door startled me into reality. “Who is it?” I asked. They said my name with an inflection of inquisition.

“Yes” I replied. “You’ve been served” the sheriff replied. In my helpless stupor I had not paid a number of parking tickets.  “Why is this happening to me?” I screamed out!

• “Why me” is the question I scream when things seem to be going wrong.
• “What now” is the question I exclaim when yet another situation arises.
• “How long” is the question I moan when the trial seems to go on and on.

“Is GOD even listening to me” is usually the thought that pops in my head when things seem to go off track. Then I try to get righteous by telling GOD how good I am by rolling down a list of how I served HIM in the past as if HE doesn’t know. Maybe I am thinking of GOD the wrong way.

• GOD is concerned when I go through trials.
• GOD is concerned when I hurt inside.
• GOD is concerned when trouble knocks on my door.

HE is so concerned about me that HE decided to do something about it.  JESUS volunteered to rescue me from death and the FATHER and HOLY SPIRIT agreed. My belief in the act of JESUS becoming a human to die specifically for me and HIS resurrection relieves my situation.

I am now part of the most powerful family I could ever ask for. Now GOD’s promises flow over me and I am truly forgiven and blessed in spite of my sins and situations.

• Are you going through something?
• Does it seem like you have been in the same situation for a while?
• Can you stop fretting for a moment to praise GOD for HIS many blessings anyway?
• Won’t you open your heart to the understanding that GOD is concerned about you?

Desperate to be a slave

Genesis 47: ²⁵ “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

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“Incumbent” was the word I learned at the end of my college career. It meant I owed them some money and unless I came up with the cash, I would not graduate. I hadn’t done the math but I quickly figured my lack of income plus bills equals problems.

I panicked and went into the counselor’s office.  Taking out a loan was my option but I knew I needed to start paying within months of graduation. I needed a job! One company took a chance on me. I was saved. I could pay my bills.

• When bills pile up I get nervous.
• When cash is low I get nervous.
• When the future seems cloudy I get nervous.

The Israelites grew desperate and sold themselves into slavery. They sold their land and themselves because of a sever famine. They were desperate.

When I get desperate, I panic and will do pretty much anything for self-preservation.  This may mean working for groups I don’t want to work with.

• GOD understands my desperations and has taken them into account when building a plan for me.
• GOD understands my panicked behavior and wants me to settle down enough to listen to HIM.
• GOD understands my blindness to my situation and desires that I communicate with HIM to show my reliance on HIM.

In order for GOD to be supreme in my life I must be willing to accept HIS plan for me, the way HE designed it. This may mean some bumpy times but rather than becoming desperate HE wants me to become reliant on HIM.

• Are you becoming desperate?
• Do you feel panic ensuing?
• Won’t you look to GOD for peace?
• Can you turn you panic into helping someone else become calm by telling them about GOD’s love?

GOD even uses evil for good

Genesis 45: ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

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Scared and confused I left a company that I had poured heart and soul into. I had run into the wrong mix of people and found myself on the outside of “the club.” For a while I felt like I was in the desert. “GOD where are you?” I would cry out.

The desire to start a business was swelling in me. I pursued many options but nothing seemed right. I finally settled on a path and GOD started delivering people to me in droves. Many have helped me and some I helped. I prayed with many and cried with them. I never would have met these people if GOD hadn’t sent me.

• GOD knows I have to face painful situations so I can grow.
• GOD understands I have to face adversity in order to be made into what HE wants me to be.
• GOD delivers me into HIS house in spite of any evil plan thought up by others or me.

Humans think they have control of lives and situations BUT GOD knows better. HIS plans are far above my thoughts, desires or worries. HE is the deliverer of my salvation!

• Are you going through something?
• Do you think GOD has left you alone?
• Won’t you open your eyes and see HIS deliverance?
• Can’t you give HIM your best AND your worst so HE can show you HIS plan?

Punished or Blessed?

Genesis 47: ²¹ They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.”

²² Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” ²³ They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.

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“We are eliminating your position” were the devastating words that seemed to rip my soul apart. I had never heard these words, so I had to replay segments of my work history during my sleepless nights. I tried to think about sins I may have fallen into that made GOD so mad that HE would rip my job out of my hands.

Maybe it was the time I flirted with a person a decade before or maybe I was getting too arrogant in my status or maybe it was my lack of giving. Any way it goes I must be getting punished for something.  Maybe I need to quit sinning all together!

• When things go wrong I sometimes think I’m being punished.
• When difficult situations appear I ask “why me” in hopes that things would change.
• When I face adversity in life I immediately think I am being punished, otherwise I would be getting “my way.”

It’s quite amazing how negative I think GOD is sometimes.  I mean when things go wrong I see HIM as this judgmental, goody, goody being who doesn’t understand just how hard it is to follow HIS ways. When things go right I praise HIM. Well… maybe sometimes I praise HIM when I’m not taking credit.

• GOD wants me to see HIS plan no matter how tragic things seem.
• GOD wants me to recognize HIS masterful work in spite of the gloomy hour.
• GOD wants me to acknowledge HIS HOLY SPIRIT to get me through the miry decisions.

GOD does not want me to rely on my intellect rather HE wants me point people to HIM in spite of what is going on.

• Do you have difficulty in your life?
• Do you think there is no way out?
• Can you rely on GOD to bring you out of your situation?
• Didn’t you believe that GOD could do anything at one time?

Jealousy doesn’t make me right

Genesis 37: ³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

⁵ Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

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Studying hard had paid off. My coworker and I were at the top of our class and became highly sought after in our office. That all fell apart when this smooth talking guy was hired.  He didn’t know all the information that my coworker and I knew yet he was getting the glamorous assignments.  I didn’t like that guy.  I wonder if we should have plotted against him.

Jealousy blinds me to my own abilities.

Jealousy makes me think I am inadequate.

Jealousy causes me to see things that aren’t there.

When I look at the fortune someone else has I get jealous and turn into a pouter. Instead of being happy for the person and celebrating, my jealousy kicks in and I say, “Why isn’t that happening to me?” or “Why is ‘that’ creepy person making it and I’m not?”

Celebrating with others actually helps me grow.

Congratulating others puts me in a mindset of gratitude rather than one of despair.

Complimenting others forces me to find the good in the person rather than seeing their flaws.

Instead of being jealous, envious and spiteful, GOD wants me to be gracious enough to actually enjoy what other people are accomplishing in spite of where I’m at. GOD wants me to show love as an example to draw mankind to HIM.

Can you recognize jealousy in yourself?

Are you focusing on what you don’t have and what others have?

Are you “half” complimenting GOD by giving thanks to HIM and turning around and complaining about what you don’t have?

Can you turn your jealousy and envy into compliments and gratitude?

Make me successful today

Genesis 24: ¹² Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.

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Ancient Latin must have been the language my professor spoke because I didn’t understand the material. As I sat and studied I realized I didn’t comprehend a thing. I prayed “LORD please help me on this test” and guess what… I failed the test.

• When I’m in trouble I reach out to GOD but sometimes I’m too late.
• When I’m lost I reach out to GOD but sometimes I’m already in a world of hurt.
• When I’m in peril I reach out to GOD but sometimes the road I was going down is closed.

Wait a minute… you mean not all my prayers will be answered the way I want them to be answered? Yes! BUT GOD does want me to include HIM in my plans to make them successful.

• Before I go on my journey, GOD wants me ask HIM for success.
• Before I start with my plans GOD wants me to ask HIM for success.
• Before I move forward with my desires GOD wants e to ask HIM for success.

Moving ahead before GOD gives me permission seems to be my mode of operation. GOD wants me to slow down and ask HIM for “success” the way HE wants it and in HIS time.

• Do you desire something?
• Are you working hard on trying to achieve your goal?
• Won’t you ask GOD to be successful today the way HE wants you to be successful?

Wisdom says don’t wait for things to be perfect!

Luke 7: ³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ ³⁵ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

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Procrastination with GOD has been a problem of mine for a while. I think to myself “when the conditions are right then I will serve HIM.” Well, the conditions never seem right so I wind up going through a trial feeling miserable and at the same time not bearing any fruit.

• It takes practice to give so give when I am poor.
• It takes practice to love my enemies so love those who are upset and mad at me.
• It takes practice to serve GOD’s humans so serve even when I don’t have time to serve.

Life has many distractions. Jobs, lack of jobs, broken relationships, school, kids, and parents all bring their share of trials. It seems like there is no time to bow our knees to GOD and ask HIM, “what do YOU want LORD?” In fact it seems like the conditions to serve GOD are never there, or are they?

GOD loves when I serve others when I don’t feel like it and give to the needy especially when I am in need. HE loves when I love those whose love isn’t there and HE especially loves when I persevere in HIS ways in spite of my sins.

The Pharisees judged JESUS and never recognized HIM as being GOD. They complained about HIM because in their mind they had another “perfect” condition in mind. JESUS was their opportunity for perfection yet they passed thinking there would be a better time and a better person. Little did they know that “now is the time to act the way GOD wanted them to act.”

• Are you upset at “that” person?
• Are you waiting for conditions to be better in order to serve GOD?
• Can you act with love today the way GOD wants you to act or is your heart to hard?
• Will you give up your “stubborn will” today and yield to GOD’s ways?