“And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” -Mark 10:26,27.
When we read verses such as this first one, it ought to make us realize that God is the real power behind any Christian “work” that we have been called to do. Only too many times we grow frustrated with an apparent lack of results, or opportunities; but we typically are comparing ourselves with others, and man-made criteria for success. We lose our focus, and start measuring our worthiness to be saved by what we are visibly accomplishing. But the scripture is clear that we are saved by grace alone through faith, and alleged “good works” will achieve nothing.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” -Romans 5:8,9
“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” -Romans 9:15,16.
So I want to let the Bible speak regarding how we should evaluate our Christian service, and there are several categories specifically to consider; 1) The work is God's, and dependance on Him. 2) Scriptures against being “busy.” 3) De-emphasizing our own efforts. 4) Waiting for the Lord 5) Importance of prayer & Bible study 6) Opinions of others.
1) The work is the Lord's, we depend on Him;
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” -John 15:4,5.
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” -I Corinthians 4:7.
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” -2 Corinthians 3:5.
2) Don't just keep busy;
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” -Luke 10:38-42.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” -Matthew 7:21-23.
“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.” -Jeremiah 8:5,6.
3) De-emphasizing our own efforts;
“Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” -Isaiah 66:1,2.
“And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.” -Exodus 33:12-16.
“And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?” -Luke 12:22-26.
4) Waiting for God's time, conditions;
"And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." -Luke 24:49.
"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." -Isaiah 40:30,31.
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." -Hebrews 10:35,36.
5) Prayer and Bible study is vital, and IS working for the Lord;
"And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone." -Matthew 14:23.
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." -Mark 1:35.
"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." -Acts 6:2-4.
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." -I Timothy 5:17.
6) Opinions of others;
"And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." -Mark 13:13.
"And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." -Luke 16:14,15.
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." -John 7:24.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10.
Remember that Joseph was a captive for 13 years before his promotion! Remember also that Christians are saved by GRACE (Ephesians 2:8,9, Titus 3:5-8), and it is a GIFT(Romans 6:23) of God, when you mull over the following scriptures; Judges 7:2, I Samuel 15:22, 2 Samuel 7:5-7, I Kings 10:8, 2 Chronicles 20:1-22, Psalms 116:12,13, 127:1,2, 147:10,11, Jeremiah 43:7, Lamentations 3:24-26, Daniel 10:1-13, Matthew 6:19-34, Luke 6:20, 11:8-13, 22:8,9, John 3:7,8, 4:21-24, 11:3-6, I Corinthians 1:26-31, 2 Corinthians 10:12, James 1:17, 5:7,11; and much more!
But if you like it short and memorable; pray, trust, wait, work. We must rest (Hebrews 4:10) in the finished work of Jesus Christ. All that we have is from Him. We should make a deliberate effort to steer away from worldly values of productivity, or we risk entering into the sins the Galatians were warned of; they began focusing on works to please God, instead of His grace;
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." -Galatians 2:16-18.
This message has been written for direction and encouragement, because above all else, we must seek to walk in the center of God's will for us. Each member of the body of Christ has functions that differ, and we all have this treasure (salvation, Spirit indwelling) in earthen vessels. God KNOWS this! Wait for Him! Seek Him diligently for direction, walk in His way, and trust Him for the outcome, whether seen or unseen. Jesus paid it all, and Jesus provides it all!
"He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." -Psalm 103:10-14.
Here is a link to my YouTube video on this subject https://youtu.be/s32_lEVbECM
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