To the last post, Rusty sent a great reply = “evil never rests. evil never retires. why should we”? Exactly right. Interesting side note as society spins and spirals out of control and moves far away from God – anytime you’re talking to a non-believer who either believes in “some kind of higher power” or simply doesn’t believe at all, ask them if they believe in evil? Is there evil? Get them talking about that. Where does that evil come from? Almost universally, mankind will concede that evil is, in fact, a very real thing. Ok, next step … how can there be evil if there is no “good”, if there is no God?
give more than you get… Also tied to the last post on taking up our cross, getting out of the bunker, going on the offense and doing those things that God uniquely equipped me to do … for His purpose, His Kingdom...
I heard a talk yesterday and the lady being interviewed said for her entire career she’s kept a note in her desk reminding her “Give more than you get. Leave more than you take.” She’s used that as her life mission in her work, with her family and with their family’s mission.
We are not here to simply take. To take from our wives, to put our needs ahead of hers and ahead of others. We’re not here to self-promote. We’re not here to add as many promotions as we can to our resume. We’re not here to stack up as much cash as we can. We’re not taking any of it with us into eternity. We are not here to take. We are here to give away. What we take into eternity is what we give away in this life. “The first among you will be last. The last will be first.”
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and was speaking about humility – “The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. For who makes you superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive?“ That’s a deep question.
Ask yourself … what do I have that I didn’t receive?
The answer truly is “nothing”. Oh no you say, I am a self-made man. I didn’t have a dime and I have worked my way up to where I am now. Dig deep on this … really? You did it all by yourself? No one helped you along the way? The talents and abilities you have – you created all those in yourself?
None of us are “self-made men”. None. “From whom all blessings flow”. I have nothing that I didn’t receive. It was all given to me already. Therefore … I am here … to return. I’m here to give to others.
My work is a form of worship. It is using the gifts God has bestowed to me so I can use those gifts to bless others and to return back to Him. He formed us to be a servant – to give away.
So, ask yourself today, “How can I use these gifts that the Father has so generously given to me to return them to Him?”
Deep Roots. Mighty Oaks. 