For What Do I Toil

James 1:11-12 NLT

(11) The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
(12) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

When I push my own agenda, when I craft ideals and methods, when I ignore the needs of the many to fulfill my own, who receives glory? Though I label myself “Christian” the one I deceive is not the one I intended. I can live my whole life thinking I am in control but that doesn’t mean it’s so. Be glad that you face trials and test for it is a process, God accepts you the way you are but loves you too much to leave you that way.

Hebrews 12:6-9 NLT

(6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."
(7) As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?
(8) If God doesn't discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all.
(9) Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

If we cannot love and respect our earthly fathers, even with all their faults, at some level our ability to love and respect our Heavenly Father is limited because we have not understood what real love is and therefore what we call love is soiled and stained and not worthy of that which is holy.  

1 John 4:20 NLT

(20) If someone says, "I love God," but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don't love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?

And if we do not love our brothers and sisters how should our achievements prosper us? Let it be known God’s hand will lead and correct if we are truly His. Those who say God blesses without correction are blind and do not know God, for to say this would indicate that this person does not understand their own need for Christ Jesus and though they say that they accept the work Jesus did on the cross they cannot see it is their own crooked heart that put Him there. They have their cake and eat it too, loving themselves because of what they have achieved but rejecting the call of the Holy Spirit to surrender, yet expecting God’s blessing at every corner. This cannot be and therefore they allow themselves to be blinded by the enemy of God so that they might satisfy their own selfish desires. If I toil for the temporary then the accolades I receive will also be temporary but if I toil for what is eternal then thief, nor moth, or rust can take it away.

My Trials

James 1:2-7 NLT

(2) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
(3) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
(4) So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
(5) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
(6) But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
(7) Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

We know that by loving God we are compelled to tell others what He has done for us but by doing this we set unaware a target on our backs. Yes the enemy of God is aiming at you Christian for the purpose of hurting God but God has made a way of escape and has not forgotten you. Though we cannot always see it, a door has been opened but before we reach that door we must fight off the snares of the enemy of God. Giving in to selfish desires only prolongs our deliverance but even still the Holy Spirit within us calls us forward, not just for our own good but for the glory of God. Be not dismayed when you stumble but be reminded of who you serve. For if you serve self surely you will die in your sin but if you serve God and do not doubt you cannot lose. Therefore, we are to count all trials as opportunities for great joy knowing that God is near and will not leave us! Walking with God is not always easy Matthew 7:13 Jesus said this, “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (NLT). So be determined not to let go of the unseen hand of God for He has promised not to leave you or forsake you. Though we walk through darkness morning is coming and His light will consume all the land. Do not be found serving self when His light shines upon you but carry His light within you so even now in this present darkness the ember of God continues to spread around the world in preparation for that day when Jesus returns.

My burden

Matthew 11:25-30 NLT

(25)  At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: "O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank You for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.

(26)  Yes, Father, it pleased You to do it this way!

(27)  "My Father has entrusted everything to Me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."

(28)  Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

(29)  Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

(30)  For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

For those who are religious it is possible to believe the burden of being Christ-like is a heavy one but this is to be a warning sign that you are focused more on self than Jesus. For those who do not take heed to this warning and come back to Christ and who continue on this path soon find compromise as a close companion but this is not what God intended for those He loves. It’s only through having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can one know that doing as Jesus does is not a liability but your one true source of strength and that is why the yoke Jesus offers is easy to bear and the burden He gives is light.

Respect

To the son or daughter who has told their father, “respect is earned not given”; to the son or daughter who is in the early stages of venturing out on their own and have found it is not as easy as they told the world it was going to be; to the children moving into adulthood and finding it pretty tough to do and be who they dreamed of do you see now why your father and mother deserve your respect, even though you can’t see why in that moment? If your mom and dad love, listen to, and obey God’s commandments then it is the children’s duty and privilege to respect and honor them. First because God says to and second because they have come through all the things you are struggling with now and they continue to make it work so that your family can function the way God intended. So look around when you are struggling, for it is always a good idea to ask God, “What would you have me learn from this?” He might just remind you of some things you need to make right before you can move forward.

There is a third reason but like number two it must be experienced not lectured and that one comes when you have children of your own. Learning is a life-long adventure so don't be quick to disregard the contributions of others, especially those older than you.

 

Trials

Christians have it wrong, going through a big trial that is at the outer reaches of how much you can take is not a sign that God thinks you are strong. No the enemy has simply lied to us, instead it is a sign that God knows just how much we need Jesus and He is waiting for us to give up control. If we fail it is only because we did not fully surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ but not once does it show how strong people are. How can we be sure of this... because the Bible instructs us that God is a jealous God and will not accept glory meant for Him to be given to someone or something else. You see if we could will ourselves out of our own troubles then Jesus came to us and died for us without cause, we marginalize the very work that has the power to save us! Inside you and I know that’s not the case because we have seen the difference between living a hollow life and one that is filled with Jesus. The Christian who depends on his own strength points to one whose spirit is deprived of spiritual nutrients and has become the very thing he’s trying not to be – weak because he limits God’s power in his life! For our own good while Jesus waits on us He also prays for us and if we are listening and obedient the Holy Spirit leads us back to the Father. Thankfully God’s mercy and grace are bigger than our ability to make a mess of things and His love is greater than we could possibly understand. That’s right the duration of our own trials has more to do with our ability to listen and learn than it does our strength or will power. So the next time you hear a motivational speech about how strong you are weigh it carefully with how long to want to continue in these difficulties  or how quickly you want them to return. The real question is are you willing to lay down your own pride in order to make progress in this journey or will you remain stuck and pretend to be strong?