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“The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Acts 10:36–38

When Peter went to Caesarea to preach the gospel to a Roman centurion named Cornelius, he was taking a major step. The Jews did not generally hold the Gentiles in high regard, and this was especially true for their Roman conquerors. In fact, the first followers of Jesus did not initially believe that the salvation He spoke of was meant for the Gentiles at all. They expected only Jews to be saved. Yet Peter went into Cornelius’ house with the message of the gospel because God sent him there.

When He got there, Peter preached Jesus. The fads that sweep the churches in our day almost always involve changing the message to make it more attractive to the world, but the Bible pattern is to hold up Christ. It is His cross and His empty tomb that provide the hope of salvation. No other message has the power to transform lives. In that description of Jesus’ life, Peter said that He “went about doing good.”

That is a most fitting description of a life well lived. God has given us the opportunity and privilege to be part of His work in our world. Those around us may live for power, wealth, fame, or success, but we should—we must—live to do good to others. This is the pattern Jesus set for us to follow. He preached, He taught, and He touched the lives of those around Him for good.

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

1 Timothy 6:3–5

The expression GIGO—garbage in, garbage out—appears to have been used in print for the first time back in 1957 in an article about Army engineers and mathematicians working with early computers. A specialist named William Mellin explained that if the inputs are not programmed correctly, the result will inevitably be incorrect. Any decisions that are made on the basis of such faulty information may be made with confidence, but they will not be correct.

One of the most important truths of life is that what we believe and teach determines how we behave. Doctrine always impacts conduct, either for good or ill. There is no such thing as belief that does not produce results in our lives. The idea that we can somehow continually feed our minds a diet of false teaching and values but not have our lives impacted is folly. Just as what we eat affects our health, what we think affects our actions.

Every Christian needs a constant, steady diet of truth in order to stay on the right path. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8:31). We are constantly under assault from the world, the flesh, and the devil as they seek to pull us away from following God. We need to read the Word of God for ourselves and hear it faithfully preached and taught to counter the stream of lies pervading the culture and keep us on the right path.

“And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Mark 1:32–35

One of the breakout stars of the Rio Olympics in 2016 was a gymnast named Simone Biles. She won five medals, four of them gold. Her routines were much more difficult than those of her competitors and her scores reflected the technical excellence of her performance. A few years before, Biles was virtually unknown, but she wanted to rise to the top. So four years before the Olympics she decided that the twenty hours per week she was spending in the gym was not enough. She added twelve hours more each week to her training schedule. The sacrifice of time and effort Biles invested was on full display on the medal stand.

There is no substitute for labor and effort in the Christian life. After Jesus had preached and taught all day, and then healed the sick well into the night, He was exhausted. Though He was fully God, He was also fully human, and He got tired. Yet very early the next morning, He went out alone to pray. Jesus knew that He needed that time in communion with His Father to prepare for the challenges of the coming day. One preacher remarked that too many Christians have traded “Sweet Hour of Prayer” for “Just a Little Talk with Jesus.” We cannot casually follow Jesus. We must instead be willing to pay the price and put forth the effort if we are to be like Him.

“Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Daniel 6:8–10

One of the besetting sins of the modern church is a lack of prayer. We may read of great prayer warriors of the past—David Brainerd melting the snow around him with the length of time he spent in prayer or James the half brother of Jesus who was known in the early church as “Camel Knees” because his constant praying had left calluses on his legs. But we seldom copy their intensity and devotion to prayer. This is true despite the fact that prayer is the essential means God has ordained to meet our needs.

D. L. Moody said, “All through the Scriptures you will find that when believing prayer went up to God, the answer came down. I think it would be a very interesting study to go right through the Bible and see what has happened while God’s people have been on their knees calling upon him. Certainly the study would greatly strengthen our faith—showing, as it would, how wonderfully God has heard and delivered, when the cry has gone up to Him for help.”

The enemies of Daniel could not find anything to use in their attacks against him but his devotion to God. They knew that he prayed on a regular basis, so by passing a law outlawing prayer, they thought they had come up with a foolproof way to trap him. The day of crisis is not the time to begin praying. We need the habit before trouble comes.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 1:22–25

According to one study I saw, in 2015 Americans spent around $90 billion on gym memberships and exercise equipment. That staggering amount of money is roughly equal to the annual gross domestic product (GDP) of the entire country of Panama! Yet it doesn’t take a whole lot of looking around to realize that all that money being spent has not produced a nation filled with thin people. Likewise, the annual best seller lists always include plenty of diet books, but that has not produced a noticeable difference in the average weight of Americans. This is because knowing that there is a problem and reading about solutions does not produce a cure. The only thing that changes the result is a change in our behavior.

The same is true in our spiritual walk. Knowing more about what is in the Bible is a good thing. We should read and study and learn as much as we can about the precious book God has given to us. But knowing the Bible will not change us for the better. Information in the head does not produce a change in behavior. It is only when we begin to do something with the information that we have gained from the Scriptures that we begin to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9).

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

2 Timothy 2:6–8

One of the first leaders of the Reformation in Scotland, George Wishart, was known for his powerful preaching and reliance on the Word of God rather than the tradition of the established church. Once, a member of the congregation where he was preaching stood up and demanded that Wishart stop troubling the town. Wishart responded, “God is my witness, that I never minded your trouble but your comfort; yea, your trouble is more grievous to me than it is to yourselves. I have offered you the Word of salvation. With the hazard of my life I have remained among you; now you yourselves refuse me; and I must leave my innocence to be declared by my God.” Wishart was executed as a heretic, but the truth for which he gave his life could not be silenced by his murder.

The tests of faith that most of us have experienced have not been so severe as to threaten us with death for our beliefs. But whether they are large or small, the tests can only be passed by those who love God above all else. When we view Him rightly as worthy of any sacrifice and the owner of all we have and our very lives, we will not shrink from obeying Him regardless of the cost. The measure of our love for God is clearly seen in the measure of the faith we exercise during the difficult times of life.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

John 3:14–17

Dr. H. A. Ironside told of a missionary who visited the church he attended when he was a little boy. After he showed them artifacts that he brought back from Africa the missionary asked, “How many good boys have we here?” Ironside said, “A lot of us thought we were good, but our mothers were there, and so not one of us dared hold up his hand.” The missionary said, “I have the same message for you that we have for the heathen in Africa; God loves naughty boys.” Ironside said he thought, “He is all mixed up. If you are good God will love you. That is what I had heard, but that is not true. God is not waiting for you to be good so He can love you; God loves sinners.”

Whether we have been saved for a few days, a few years, or for decades, we must never lose sight of the fact that God reached out in His boundless love and compassion and offered us salvation. This offer was not made because we deserved it, but because we needed it so desperately. So many religions are based on what people do or do not do. Christianity—true Christianity based on what the Bible teaches—is different. Instead of our efforts, salvation is all about what God’s love has provided to us, despite our sinful enmity against Him. What amazing love!

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”

John 15:7–10

It is said that when Henry Ford and his wife Clara were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary, a reporter covering the event asked Ford what the secret to a long and happy marriage was. Ford replied, “The formula is the same formula I have always used in making cars—just stick to one model!” The secret to success in any endeavor is not really a secret. It is simply to continue doing the right things. Whether it is a job, relationship, or ministry, a continued repetition of right leads to results.

Most people in our day are looking for quick and easy solutions. Yet God’s plan is the slow, steady, patient repetition of right, rather than the immediate result. When the Children of Israel left Egypt, God laid out His plan to Moses for them to conquer the land of Canaan. “I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land” (Exodus 23:29–30). God could certainly have given them immediate victory over the entire land, but He knew that they needed the struggle to build their character. True progress takes place little by little, with continued investments of faithfulness.

Many Christians think that the best way to show love to God is by creating a big, flashy display or undertaking a new, big project. In reality, the best way to show love to God is to faithfully keep His commandments.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

1 Corinthians 13:1–3

Peter Drucker was one of the most profound and influential thinkers of the business world. He remained in demand as a consultant and speaker into his nineties. One of Drucker’s most profound observations was regarding the gap between what many people focus on and the most important priorities. He wrote, “Management is doing things right—improving operational performance, maximizing revenues, and reducing expenses while increasing artistic production values and audience appreciation. Leadership is doing the right things—setting organizational priorities and allocating human and fiscal resources to fulfill the organization’s vision.”

It is important for us to do what is right and it is important for us to do acts of kindness. But as Christians, it’s not enough to do the right things. The Bible tells us that our motives—the why behind what we do—matters.

Samuel told King Saul, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). God calls us to live righteously, because He is infinitely holy. But outward forms do not suffice. We need to serve Him with the right motives, or all the right actions will not produce any profit for our eternal accounts.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14–16

President Ronald Reagan was fond of quoting a statement of John Winthrop, an early leader of the Puritans in Massachusetts, about the way he viewed their role in the world. Winthrop said, “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through the world. We shall shame the faces of many of God’s worthy servants, and cause their prayers to be turned into curses upon us till we be consumed out of the good land whither we are a going.”

Christians should be the best citizens in whatever country they call home. They should be obedient to civil authority, faithful to fulfill their civic duties, and diligent about improving their surroundings. We are to do this not because we have an earthly hope, but because we have an heavenly obligation. “And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him” (Mark 12:17). We are examples to those around us, and our faith should impact how we live in a way that it is visible, including in the way we conduct ourselves as citizens of our earthly homeland.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

1 Timothy 2:1–4

On April 18, 1775, Paul Revere made his famous “midnight ride” to warn that the British troops were leaving Boston to try to confiscate the colonist’s weapons. His special purpose was to alert two men, Samuel Adams and John Hancock. These prominent leaders of the cause of American independence were special targets of the British raid, with soldiers purposing to bring back the bodies of Adams and Hancock. That night, Adams and Hancock had met, not to plan a political rally or write a treatise demanding independence, but to pray for God’s help and blessing. When Revere reached Lexington, he found them sleeping in the house of a local pastor, Reverend Clark, and alerted them to the danger in time to flee.

Many people find it easy to criticize presidents, politicians, and judges. Few take the time to pray for them, or seek God’s direction and guidance on those He has chosen to set in authority. In reality, no politicians of our day compare to the wickedness of the Emperor Nero—the ruler of the Roman Empire when Paul penned the instructions to pray for those in civil authority (1 Timothy 2). We must never forget that human government is instituted by God, and He has the ultimate say both over who leads nations and how they lead. Our assignment is to regularly and faithfully pray for those leaders, whether they are the ones we would prefer or not.

“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.”

Psalm 33:11–14

There is no greater human blessing than to be privileged to live in a nation which from its founding acknowledged the role of God in the affairs of men and provided freedom to worship Him. The spirit that moved the early leaders of our nation is on full display in the poem Francis Scott Key wrote following the battle at Fort McHenry—especially in the verse of the national anthem that is seldom sung anymore.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Our hope is not in a nation, but in the same God our nation once trusted. That same God still does work in the hearts of men and in the direction of countries. We cannot save our nation through political action. The need of our day is a revival that will see the lost converted and Christians renewed in their commitment to following the Word of God. And though our true and most important citizenship is in Heaven, we should be concerned and involved in the future of our earthly home.

“And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 3:19–21

Advertising on television is an expensive business, and that is never more true than during the Super Bowl each year. Because of the massive audience that is tuning in, the networks charge millions of dollars for just thirty seconds of advertising. According to one study I saw, the typical commercial of that length has about seventy-five words. That means that during the Super Bowl in 2014 for example, each word in the average commercial cost about $54,000!

If you knew you were going to have to pay a huge sum for every word you spoke, you would certainly choose each word very carefully. You would want to know for sure that the word you were about to speak was important, and would advance the cause of something that mattered. But in truth, while we do not get a bill from an advertising agency or a television network for our speech, each word does matter. Words can greatly encourage or deeply wound. It is little wonder that Solomon wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).

And we should never forget that God is listening to all that we say. Jesus warned, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). There is no excuse for Christians to be careless in our speech. Our words matter and have great power, and we should be sure they are a force for good.

“Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

2 Corinthians 5:9–11

In 1879, a notorious English criminal named Charles Peace was sentenced to be executed. He had killed at least two men and committed a number of burglaries in wealthy neighborhoods in and around London. A large reward was offered for his capture. He was eventually arrested while robbing a house and convicted after a sensational trial that riveted the entire city.

On the morning of his execution, Peace was visited by a clergyman and expressed his annoyance that the church had shown little interest in people like him. Peace said, “Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worthwhile living, just to save one soul from an eternal Hell like that!”

There is a real eternity in either Heaven or Hell awaiting every person born into this world. And God has tasked His children with the responsibility to proclaim the gospel, the only hope of Heaven, to those around us. Yet it is clear that for many churches and many Christians, reaching the lost is barely an afterthought rather than a passionate commitment. The test of our love for the lost (and of our love for God) is not found in what we say, but in what we do. Are we taking the task of sharing the gospel seriously?

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthian 10:11–13

In July of 1911, a daredevil named Bobby Leach decided to try going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. A number of people had been killed in making such an attempt. To increase his chances of survival, Leach had a special steel drum designed to protect him, and though he suffered a few minor injuries, he did indeed survive the great plunge over the falls.

A few years later, Leach slipped on an orange peel while walking down the street. He badly fractured his leg and was hospitalized. Not long after he died from complications that set in from his injury. He survived a great danger, but he died from something that seemed to pose no danger at all.

There is perhaps no more dangerous time in the Christian life than the moment when we think that we have things together and can relax. The devil doesn’t take days off. He is constantly on the prowl seeking openings through doors we have carelessly left open that he can exploit. He delights to see Christians “too busy” to pray and too burdened down with the cares of the day to spend time meditating on God’s Word. He knows that if he can convince us to let down our guard, he will be able to take advantage of our moments of weakness. God calls us to be alert and humble every single day.

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.”

Galatians 2:11–13

Each July hundreds of people from around the world descend on Pamplona, Spain for the annual running of the bulls. Through the narrow streets of town, people run ahead of the charging bulls heading for the ring where bullfights will be held. Some only go once, but others take the challenge again and again. The book Fiesta: How to Survive the Bulls of Palmplona includes a section with advice from experts who were veterans of the event. One of those authors, Bill Hillman, found his expertise called into question when his leg was seriously gored during the 2014 run. He had accumulated a great deal of knowledge, but knowledge alone is not enough.

The confrontation between Paul and Peter over how to treat Gentile believers revealed this disconnect. Peter was fine eating with Gentiles as long as no one in Jerusalem knew about it. He recognized that as believers saved alike through the blood of Jesus, there should be no barriers in fellowship regardless of race. But when he might have been criticized for doing right, Peter abandoned the principle he knew was correct.

The opinions of men pale in comparison to the commands of God. Yet all too often, we do not do what we know is right because of how we believe it will be received by others. We certainly should be kind and courteous in our dealings with others, just as Jesus was; but we should never allow opposition or criticism to deter us from putting our knowledge into practice.

“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 6:18–20

I read about a military instructor who was teaching a group of new recruits a class on unarmed combat and self defense. He reviewed a number of potential attacks they might face and the responses that would allow them to protect themselves. Then he decided to test their knowledge. He asked the new soldiers, “What steps would you take if someone came at you with a machete?” One eager young private replied, “BIG steps…in the opposite direction!”

There is a time to stand and fight, but there is also a time when the only safe thing to do is to run. Joseph recognized this moment when he was tempted by Potiphar’s wife. He left his coat in her hand in his haste to get out of the house. One of the things that leads Christians to fall into sin is lingering in the neighborhood of temptation.

We see this striking truth illustrated in Solomon’s description of the path that leads a simple young man to moral ruin. “Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night” (Proverbs 7:8–9). He was in a place he should not have been, and he stayed there while the sun went down. Instead of prolonging our stay in the growing darkness and getting as close to sin as we can, we should take every opportunity to avoid the places of temptation.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

James 1:19–21

The story goes that during the Civil War, Edwin Stanton, who was the Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln, was accused of favoritism. Stanton, furious that his honor had been impugned went to see the president to complain. Lincoln told him to write a letter to the accusing officer that outlined all of his complaints. After the letter was written, Stanton took it to the president. Lincoln said, “Now put it in the stove. That’s what I do when I have written a letter while I am angry. Burn it, and write another gentler one.”

The old nature that all of us still have finds it very easy to be provoked to anger by real or imagined insults and injuries. Our tempers rise when we feel we have been treated unfairly. How we respond in those moments goes a long way to determining the success and strength of the relationships we have. If we fly off the handle and let people have a piece of our minds when we are angry, we should not be surprised to find that others walk on eggshells in our presence and don’t want to spend a great deal of time with us.

We may think that it is just a few words, and will not have a lasting impact, but words carry great weight, and once spoken cannot be unsaid. How much better it is for us to swallow our pride and our temper and respond slowly with words we have thought about before speaking. The words we choose to speak will have an impact for good or evil.

“Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”

1 Timothy 5:5–8

When Timothy was the pastor of the church at Ephesus, there were no government programs to care for the needy like we have in our society today. An elderly or ill person who was no longer able to work had to rely on someone else, usually a family member, for help or they would be reduced to begging. Paul’s instruction for the church regarding the care of widows was that each family care for their own to avoid burdening the church. This would leave only those with no family for the church to provide and care for.

That same principle applies across a wide range of life. Each of us has duties and responsibilities that we are expected and called to fulfill. When we do not fulfill our responsibilities, we leave a burden for others.

Perhaps you’ve read this little piece that someone wrote: “This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have.”

Each of us have things we can accomplish for God that no one else can do quite as well. Each of us have opportunities to touch the lives of others that God places in our lives. We need to be faithful and diligent in each area the Lord places us.

“And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them. Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.”

Acts 9:38–39

A number of years ago during the Cold War, at a time when many feared that religious freedom might be lost, a question went around churches and youth groups across the country: If you were arrested and charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? The profound truth that we are saved by grace apart from any work or merit on our part does not remove or diminish the obligation that we have as children of God to be busy in His work. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

The world today often sees no difference between those who claim to be following Christ and those who do not. It is common to hear complaints about Christians being hypocritical and failing to live up to their beliefs. What is sadly not as common is to see the people of God living out their faith in an active and meaningful way. The early church benefited greatly from the commitment of Dorcas to use the talents and abilities she had for the good of others. Those in need were able to point to the impact she made on their lives by doing what she could for them. Each of us should be fully committed to doing all that we can for God’s kingdom.

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Luke 24:25–27

On the Mount of Transfiguration, for a brief moment the true glory of Jesus Christ was revealed to Peter, James and John. They were startled to see Moses and Elijah talking to the Lord, and Peter in his typical impetuous fashion suggested building houses and staying there on the mountain. But the point of that revelation was not for them to remain and be impressed by meeting two of the most famous figures of the Old Testament. The point was to show a glimpse of the reality of Jesus’ glory, and in the end, that is what the three disciples were left with from their experience. “And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves” (Mark 9:8).

Jesus is meant to be and must be the center of our lives, our thoughts and our love. He is the central theme of the Bible. Dr. John Rice said, “Every prophet in the Bible has one great theme: Jesus and salvation. You will find that in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. You will find that in all the types, in all the sacrifices and priesthood and tabernacle offerings. You find it prophesied by every prophet in the Old Testament and the New. There is one great theme of the Bible and that is Jesus Christ.” We cannot possibly love Jesus as much as we should or as much as He deserves, but we can do everything possible to keep Him as the main focus and love of our lives.

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.”

1 Corinthians 3:5–8

I am grateful for every pastor, leader, and Christian worker who has invested in my life over the years. I’ve benefited greatly from their wisdom and counsel and input. The example of faithfulness they have left has been one I’ve tried to follow in my own life. But there is a danger that we become divided and cut up into groups by determining to follow one leader to the exclusion of all others. The church at Corinth, that struggled with so many issues, dealt with this. Some claimed Peter as their example, while other followed Apollos, and some lifted up Paul. No man is worthy of the adoration and devotion that we are to give to Christ alone.

Paul wrote, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21). We are to be praising and honoring and lifting up Jesus, rather than having our focus on leaders in this world. Those who faithfully follow Christ are worthy of honor, but they are not to be our source of identity or reliance. Only Christ has the ability to produce results in our work for Him, and only He is perfect and unfailing. Our hearts should be consumed with love for Jesus, and He should be the focus and theme of our lives.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

Matthew 10:29–31

When Jesus wanted to highlight the importance and value of our lives to God—to teach us that we can trust Him because of His love and care for us—He used the example of sparrows. These common birds had little value in the marketplace. The farthing was one of the smallest coins in circulation at the time, barely more than a mite. You could buy two sparrows for one farthing (Matthew 10:29), and Luke 12:6 tells us that if you had two farthings, the seller would throw in an extra sparrow so you got five for the price of four: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?”

Yet these birds that were considered almost worthless by men were of note to God. He feeds and provides for the birds as part of His creation and promises to do the same for us. It is an insult to the love of God for us to live in worry and fear. Trusting God does not mean that things will never go wrong. In fact there are times when it is our obedience to Him that leads us into times of struggle and pain.

But there is never a time when we are apart from His love and care. The faith that we have in Him is not based on us, but on His nature. And the God who cares for sparrows holds us in high regard. He cares about what happens to us. “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows” (Exodus 3:7).

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.”

John 10:11–14

There was a marked difference between the way Jesus viewed people and the way His closest followers viewed them. The Lord was filled with compassion for their needs, while the disciples often viewed them as an annoyance. When thousands came to hear Jesus teach, He wanted to meet their physical as well as spiritual needs. But the disciples said, “Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat” (Mark 6:36).

The way we treat people is determined by the way we view them. And how we view them is determined by the condition of our hearts. The shepherd looks at the flock of sheep differently than a person who is hired to care for them would. That is not because the sheep behave differently for the shepherd—by their nature they are sheep. It is because of the shepherd’s heart. For us to be like Jesus, it is His heart for others that we must emulate.

The right view of others begins when we see them as God sees them. The people around us are not simply obstacles on our way to accomplishing what we have planned, even though there may be days when it feels that way. They are individuals with hopes, needs, dreams, and aspirations. Even more they are made in God’s image, and the objects of His love. We are called to love them as Jesus did.

“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:26–28

I read about a young military recruit who was marching with his unit in a parade. When they stopped and were supposed to be standing at attention, he started waving to the watching crowd. A drill sergeant quickly appeared and told him, “Jones, don’t ever do that again!” But a few moments later the private was waving again. When the unit finished their march, the livid sergeant began to yell and scream at young Jones. He described the vital importance of maintaining discipline and following orders. He explained in detail all the ways in which he could make the young soldier’s life miserable. Finally he asked, “Jones, don’t you know what I can do to you?” “Oh yes sir,” Jones replied, “But you don’t know what my mother can do to me!”

There are churches and Christians who determine what is right and wrong based on the opinions of others. Rather than first studying God’s Word and then proclaiming it’s truth, they first study what people want and try to fit cultural ideals into Scripture. They abandon truth to avoid criticism.

Such actions indicate a misplaced fear. Rather than fearing the opinions of men whose judgment is corrupted by sin, we should fear the righteous evaluation of a high and holy God, and order our lives accordingly. The disapproval of those around us matters little if God is pleased by our actions. His watchful eyes should always be kept in mind as we go about our daily lives, and we should seek His approval above all else.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Philippians 4:11–13

So many times people say that they would serve God more—give more, work more, witness more, pray more—if only their circumstances would improve. They believe that it is the difficulties and challenges they face that hold them back. But that is a misunderstanding of God’s plan. Nowhere in Scripture are we promised that things will go smoothly for those who follow Christ, and nowhere do we find hardship offered as an acceptable reason for not serving Him faithfully. In fact, those in Scripture and throughout history who have made the greatest difference for Christ have done so in spite of difficulty.

Certainly it is more pleasant to be full and abound than it is to be hungry and suffer, but God’s grace is sufficient either way, and we have no excuse not to obey and honor Him through our circumstances. Paul was not speaking theoretically when he penned the words in Philippians 4 above. He had experienced trials beyond what most of us can imagine. For Paul, persecution was not having a door slammed in his face while out canvassing, it was being beaten and thrown into prison.

Yet in every circumstance and situation, Paul found that Christ gave him strength to do what was right. He was able to preach in synagogues, open air markets, prison cells, and king’s palaces. The difference was not what was going on around him, but what Paul received from the indwelling Holy Spirit. God has grace and strength available to meet and overcome every trial, and when we access that strength, we will truly be more than conquerors.

“And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.”

Judges 2:8–10

The tendency of our human thinking is to assume that things will continue as they have been, and that the things which are precious to us will be held and treasured in the future by those who come after us.

This is a dangerous assumption. Even the Israelites, to whom the Old Testament was entrusted, went through a period of backsliding when the sacred words of God were forgotten. It was not until the Temple was being renovated under King Joash that the law was found. “And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses” (2 Chronicles 34:15).

The things that we love and believe must be intentionally passed on to others. If we assume that process will happen without active involvement, we are going to reap a horrible harvest. There must be a careful and diligent effort if our faith is to be passed on. It doesn’t just happen. Wayne Calloway, who for a time was Chairman of Pepsi said, “Most of the companies that are in life-or-death battles got into that kind of trouble because they didn’t pay enough attention to developing their leaders.” The next generation, both in our churches and in our families, will only hold to what we teach them is worth remembering. The rest will be forgotten and lost.

“So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.”

1 Kings 12:12–14

With his performance as head of the Union Army during the Civil War still fresh in people’s minds, Ulysses S. Grant was overwhelmingly elected as the 18th president in 1868. Although Grant had performed well as a general, he did not seem to be careful about the people he selected to fill the offices in his administration. As a result, though Grant himself was personally honest, his time in office was marked with serious scandal and corruption. Many around him used their position to enrich themselves, and by the time Grant’s presidency ended, “Grantism” had become a popular shorthand expression to describe political corruption and greed in government.

No matter how strong we may think we are in our beliefs and convictions, surrounding ourselves with people who do not live by God’s principles will always lead to heartache. Even if we manage to maintain our own integrity, which is not guaranteed if we live among evil companions, our reputation will undoubtedly be tarnished by actions of those with whom we have chosen to associate ourselves.

This doesn’t mean we should never touch the lives of people whose lifestyle indicates how greatly they need Christ. Jesus Himself was known as a friend of sinners (Luke 7:34). But there is a difference between sharing the gospel with those who need the Lord and making them your closest friends and trusted advisers. We should be gracious and kind to everyone, but our closest friends and advisers must be chosen from those who are going in the direction we are going—otherwise certain tragedy will follow.

“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.”

Psalm 18:3–6

David spent years literally running for his life. Though he was a loyal servant of King Saul, the jealous leader repeatedly tried to kill David. David also faced the Philistines, the bitter enemies of Israel. Again and again he found himself on the brink of death. It was when he finally was given deliverance from his foes that David wrote the words of Psalm 18, rejoicing in God’s deliverance and celebrating His faithfulness. In every trial, we find that what David tried and proved for himself is true. We can fully rely on the goodness of God—not always to deliver us from all suffering, but to provide sufficient grace in every difficulty.

Dr. John Rice said, “Whatever the trouble, the Lord Jesus can bring peace to the aching heart, can make the sun shine again, and the flowers bloom again. He can make a garden of joy out of whatever desolate place we find ourselves in. One can suffer and be happy. One can be poor and find himself rich in spirit. One can be healed in heart from the ravages that accidents, circumstances, and enemies or loved ones leave. Jesus Christ can bring peace to the troubled, peace that the world cannot give. He comes to give deliverance to those who are bruised or crushed.” Yet too often Christians live without peace—for they do not cry out to God and seek His protection and help.

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24:14–15

It is said that when Harry Truman became president, he received greetings from a number of world leaders, including an elaborate letter from the king of Saudi Arabia. It was on lavender paper, stamped with a massive wax seal, and trailing long purple ribbons. The letter was addressed to “Your Excellency.” After some time passed and Truman had formally recognized the new state of Israel, he received another letter from the king. This one was printed on plain paper and addressed to “Mr. Truman.”

If we do what is right, there will always be some who are not happy about it. Even Jesus, who lived a perfect life and never did anything wrong, had many enemies. They resented that He refused to bow to their whims and instead did what God had commanded without regard for their traditions. Though we are not perfect, we do our best to do what we know to be right, and it would be nice to think that others would see and appreciate that effort.

The important thing, however, is not the approval of men but the smile of God. And though it is not pleasant to be critiqued and condemned for doing right, the actions of others should never sway us from that course. The decision to do what is right is one we can make for ourselves regardless of what anyone or everyone else does.

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Galatians 6:7–10

Charles Sheldon’s powerful novel In His Steps begins with a poor beggar going from house to house for help, only to be turned away by a number of prominent members of the church. When he dies at the church the following Sunday morning, the pastor is stricken at the thought that no one was willing to help. He challenges the members of his congregation to begin asking themselves, “What would Jesus do?” before making decisions. As a result, both the church and their town were transformed.

In reality, the only lasting transformation of a life comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). But that doesn’t negate the importance of serving the physical needs of others. In fact, often by meeting people’s physical needs, we have an opportunity to also reach their spiritual needs.

One of the notable things about the life and ministry of Jesus was His alertness to the needs of others. At one point after a particularly busy time, Jesus recognized that He and His disciples needed a break. “And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” (Mark 6:31). Yet many people saw their ship leaving and ran overland to meet Jesus, so that when the boat landed, there was another large crowd. Despite His need for rest, Jesus taught, healed, and fed them. He did not miss the opportunity to minister to people and preach the gospel, even when it cost Him a great deal.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.”

1 Corinthians 10:31–33

Many people are looking for a purpose or meaning in their lives. Books regularly hit the best-seller list by promising help in this search. Television is filled with programs and advertisements that offer (usually for a small fee or three easy payments) to guide people to finding meaning. Yet such efforts are focused in the wrong place. This life is not about us, but about God. We do not belong to ourselves, but to Him. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Charles Spurgeon said, “If God had willed it, each of us might have entered Heaven at the moment of conversion. Why then are we here? Would God keep His children out of paradise a single moment longer than was necessary? We remain on earth as sowers to scatter good seed; as ploughmen to break up the fallow ground; as heralds publishing salvation. We are here as the ‘salt of the earth,’ to be a blessing to the world. We are here to glorify Christ in our daily life.”

The life that is aimed at bringing glory to God will look different from one that is focused on human accomplishment and meaning. Rather than trying to be promoted, we will be humble. Rather than trying to be prominent, we will be serving. Rather than trying to be successful, we will be faithful. The world may not value such a life, but God certainly does.

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Joshua 1:7–8

The words that we use do not spring up out of thin air. The things we talk about reveal what we think, feel, and treasure. Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45). If we are going to be Christians whose lives are pleasing to the Lord, then our speech must reveal that our hearts and minds are filled with His Word. When our mouths are full of the latest fads or our own opinions, it reveals that there is an internal problem in our lives.

D. L. Moody said, “One thing I have noticed in studying the Word of God, and that is, when a man is filled with the Spirit he deals largely with the Word of God, whereas the man who is filled with his own ideas refers rarely to the Word of God. He gets along without it, and you seldom see it mentioned in his discourses.” The Bible is not out of date or obsolete. It still is the truth of God, filled with the precepts and commandments we must follow. It must be held above all other forms of input in our thinking.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:23–26

It was often the case in Jesus’ day, as it is in ours, that people equated financial blessing with God’s approval. Those who were rich were thought to be especially favored by God, and many thought that they surely must be doing things right in order to be so blessed. Yet Jesus said that rather than riches proving someone had good standing with God, wealth often made it almost impossible for those who possessed it to enter His kingdom.

While it is certainly more comfortable to go through life with money than without, we must never forget that it is not this world that matters most, but eternity. In truth the Bible teaches that sometimes great financial success is not a blessing at all, but rather the pathway to destruction. Solomon wrote, “For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them” (Proverbs 1:32).

Rather than living to accumulate assets here, we should be focused on the world to come. Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). The false security people find in money has kept some from salvation, and has kept some Christians from serving God as they should. We need to cling to God’s truth and trust in Him.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Colossians 3:1–4

In his 1746 book, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards described the process undergone by those who are converted and the change it makes in their lives. He wrote, “The higher gracious affections are raised, the greater the spiritual appetite and longing of soul after spiritual attainments. Those with false affections rest satisfied in them. But for a Christian, the more he loves God with a gracious love, the more he desires to love Him, and the more uneasy he is that he doesn’t love Him more; the more he hates sin, the more he desires to hate it, and is upset that he loves it so much; the more his heart is broken, the more he desires it should be broken; the more he longs after God and holiness, the more he longs to long.”

The course of our lives is set by the things which we love most. The more our affections are set on the things of this world, the less godly our lives will be. The more our affections are set on the things of God, the more like Jesus we will act, think, and talk. There is no way to permanently change outward problems without first changing the heart. Yet too often we try to fix things from the outside in. No lasting spiritual change ever comes from a focus on externals. The outside still matters, but the true direction of a life is set by what is loved in the heart.

“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.”

Leviticus 19:9–10

Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father William was president of General Motors, and one of the most respected and successful businessmen in the country. When he was old enough to drive, Bunkie asked his father for a car. He got one—in pieces. Bunkie’s father wanted him to appreciate the vehicle, so Bunkie was responsible for putting his own car together. There was help available if he needed it, but he had to do the work himself to enjoy the result.

There is a human tendency to avoid work if at all possible, but it leads to danger and ruin. There is great value in work, for it teaches us the character and discipline we need in both the spiritual and physical realms. When God gave instructions for the provision for the poor in the land of Israel, He did not command those who had resources to give to them directly. Rather they were to leave food in the field, where the poor would be allowed to come and gather it.

In the church at Thessalonica, there were some who were freeloading on others and wanted to be supported and have their needs meet. Paul responded, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Work is good for us, and it is the means which God has provided for our physical needs to be met. Rather than dreading it, we should be grateful we are able to work.

“And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.”

Luke 19:11–13

Even after three years of His teaching, the disciples still did not understand that Jesus had not come to be an earthly king, but to be the Sacrifice for sin. As He made His way to Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus told the disciples the parable of ten servants given ten pounds with this instruction—accomplish something with what they had been given. The one servant who buried his money and did nothing with it had it taken away with the harsh pronouncement of judgment for his failure.

The resources we have are not truly ours. Everything belongs to God. We are simply stewards who have been entrusted with what belongs to someone else, and we are expected to be doing something of value with those resources. George Müller said, “Let us walk as stewards and not act as owners, keeping for ourselves the means with which the Lord has entrusted us. He has not blessed us that we may gratify our own carnal mind, but for the sake of using our money in His service and to His praise.”

If we bury the things we have been given, refusing to put them to work for God’s kingdom, we will not hear His words of approval, “Well done,” when we stand before Him. There is a great responsibility placed on our shoulders as servants of God to take advantage of the open doors He places before us. We must continue to stay busy until the day that we see His face.

“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 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 40:29–31

Despite suffering from poor health for much of his fifty-five years of life, George Whitefield crossed the Atlantic thirteen times, preached more than eighteen thousand sermons, conducted revivals and missionary works across America and Europe, and helped spark the revival known as the Great Awakening. It is estimated that Whitefield preached to more than ten million people during his lifetime. George Whitefield said, “A true faith in Jesus Christ will not suffer us to be idle. No, it is an active, lively, restless principle; it fills the heart, so that it cannot be easy till it is doing something for Jesus Christ.”

God did not save us just to sit back and enjoy the ride to Heaven. He has a plan for us to be active and involved in His service all the days of our lives. Jesus set the pattern for us in this regard, when in His first recorded conversation as a twelve-year-old boy, He responded to Mary’s anguish over not being able to find Him with a clear mission statement. “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49).

This same necessity should guide our choices throughout our daily lives. This world is merely a pause between moments of eternity, and we have a responsibility to make the most of every moment. A Christian who is not willing and eager to work for God has a poor understanding indeed of the grace that saved Him.

“Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”

James 1:9–11

During a brilliant and successful business career that saw him as head of both Ford and Chrysler, Lee Iacocca became one of America’s best known business leaders. He was one of the first company heads to appear in advertising, and his commercials helped turn Chrysler from a failing and near-bankrupt company into a profitable car maker again. But in his autobiography, Iacocca reflected on the lack of value fame offers. He wrote, “Here I am in the twilight years of my life, still wondering what it’s all about. I can tell you this: fame and fortune is for the birds.”

There are many who are spending all of their time, energy, and effort to become well known in this world. But even the best-known men and women of history fade from importance over time. Soon, all that remain are a few statues, perhaps some buildings or towns named in their honor, or a museum somewhere that collects the remnants of their work. There is nothing more fleeting than fame and the applause of men.

So when we choose how to invest the limited time we have, we should focus on what is eternal. Those who pursue earthly fame forfeit eternal reward. “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:2).

“Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.”

Haggai 1:3–6

I read about a man making his first trip to Las Vegas who decided to try his luck at one of the casinos. Since he had never been in one before, he asked an attendant for some advice on how things worked. The attendant carefully showed him how to put money in the slot machine and how to play. After a few moments the tourist asked, “So where does the money come out?” With a smile, the attendant pointed at a nearby ATM machine and said, “Right over there.”

All around us there are people who are seeking success and satisfaction from things that do not and, indeed, cannot provide it. Nothing in the world is able to meet the need we have in our hearts for God. No matter how much money we have, how many cars we buy, or how many houses we own, it is never enough. Like putting money into a bag with holes in it, we end up feeling empty.

Solomon was one of the richest men in history. He literally had everything he could ever imagine. Yet, he learned that material success apart from God was empty. Again and again in Ecclesiastes, he described his great resources as “vanity”—something completely without value. Only in God do we find genuine prosperity and gain. Solomon wrote, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

“Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,”

1 Chronicles 29:2–3

God did not allow David to fulfill his heart’s desire to build a Temple that would become the permanent home of the Ark of the Covenant. However, He did send word through the prophet Nathan that David’s son Solomon would take on the project. David could have sulked and complained that it wasn’t fair that he wasn’t going to be allowed to do something for God that he wanted to do. Instead, he recognized that God had the right to command and control his life, and set out to make it easier for Solomon to complete the task he would have preferred to do himself.

David’s heart is on full display in both his obedience to a command from God that did not match with his desires and his willingness to personally invest his own resources in the Temple project. Both of these are an expression of David’s heart for God. This is the same man who was inspired to write, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength” (Psalm 18:1). It is not what we say with our words, but what we do with our actions that reveals what is within our hearts.

“And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.”

Exodus 35:21–22

I read about a chaplain who was tasked with visiting soldiers who had been seriously wounded in a battle. As he made his way through the field hospital, he came to a cot where a young soldier was recovering from the amputation of his arm. Wanting to comfort the soldier, the chaplain said, “You have lost an arm in a great cause.” With a smile, the wounded man corrected him. “No,” he said, “I didn’t lose it—I gave it.”

The Christian life is not successfully lived by those who grasp and cling to everything they can, to keep it for themselves. Instead, it is rightly lived by those who, recognizing the grace that has been extended to them, are grateful for the opportunity to express their gratitude in return. This is the spirit that God wishes to see in our lives. “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

The person who gives out of an overflowing, willing heart is demonstrating the mind of Christ. He laid aside all the glory of Heaven—the wealth and majesty that are rightfully His—and took on a human body for the sake of our salvation. The perfect life He laid down for us should inspire us to recognize that our willing sacrifices are still less than He deserves.

“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.”

Acts 4:14–16

The story goes that the Communist government of China, unhappy with the continued high regard in which missionary Hudson Taylor was held for his many years of work in their country, at one point commissioned a new biography of his life. Their instructions to the author were crystal clear—paint the great soulwinner in a negative light to bring discredit on his name. Yet as the author worked on his research, he came to an inescapable conclusion. Not only was Taylor a good man, but the gospel he preached was true. At the risk of his very life, the author resigned his commission, renounced the official atheism of China, and became a believer.

All of us have an impact not only on those with whom we come in direct contact but also on people far into the future who we will never even meet. We should live in such a way that it is obvious that our faith is real, and that we are followers of Christ not just in word but in deed. When we do, we make the gospel more attractive to others. “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:10).

There should be no question in the minds of those who surround us—family, co-workers, neighbors and friends—that our contact with Jesus has changed us. There should be no question that we are committed to loving God and loving others, and that our lives and conduct are molded by our faith.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

1 Timothy 6:12–14

Living faith accepts the gift of salvation offered through God’s amazing grace, and places us in God’s family. At that moment we are saved forever. Eternal life is not something we receive in the future—we already have it. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).

Yet despite already possessing eternal life, some Christians do not live as if things have changed. H. A. Ironside said, “Eternal life is the present portion of all believers. What does the Apostle mean, then, when he says, ‘Lay hold on eternal life’? It is an exhortation to make it a practical thing as we go through this scene. It is quite possible to trust in Christ and thus to have eternal life in the soul, and yet to drop down to a low spiritual level where one is not living in the reality of eternal life.”

While salvation is freely given apart from our efforts or merit, the result of that salvation should be that we live as new creatures in Christ, already living as those in Heaven do in obedience to His purpose and will. This Christian life, in deed as well as word, is meant for the here and now. It is not something we will put on later after we have reached Heaven and laid aside the things of Earth.

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

James 4:13–16

In June of 1812, Napoleon launched his invasion of Russia. With nearly 700,000 soldiers under his command, the French leader was confident of victory. It is said that before the war he boasted so strongly of his coming triumph that one hearer cautioned him, “Remember, Sire, man proposes but God disposes.” Napoleon responded that he did both. Yet six months later as the French retreated in disarray through the harsh Russian winter, fewer than 30,000 of Napoleon’s troops were still able to fight. Not even a powerful emperor was immune to weather or the hand of God in human events.

The illusion that we are in charge and have things under control may be an attractive and comforting one, but it is far from reality. The truth is that despite all our plans and goals, we have no way to know what even the next day will bring, let alone what may happen further into the future. “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).

The sin of presumption is the sin of self-reliance and self-focus. Rather than submitting to God’s will, boasting about what we plan to do reveals that our goals are set on the wrong things. Instead of thinking we are in control, we should rest in the certain knowledge that God is, and that we can always trust Him.

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”

Psalm 90:1–4

To see the reality of change in our world, just get a map from thirty or forty years ago. You will find countries listed that no longer exist. New countries have arisen, and border lines have been revised and redrawn. You can do the same with a list of the most prominent companies in the business world. Names that once were renowned are forgotten. At one time Sears owned radio station WLS in Chicago, which stood for “World’s Largest Store.” In our day Sears is struggling, and the news about their brand is often of store closures. In this world of rapid change, it is a comfort to us as God’s children to know that we can always rely on Him.

When Moses penned the song of praise and rejoicing that we know as Psalm 90, I’m sure the memories flooded his mind—the burning bush in the desert, the plagues in Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea. He had seen God work in great ways. But even more, Moses had see God work again and again through decades. He realized that the God he heard about as a little boy in Egypt was the same God as the one he followed on the way to the Promised Land.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Perfect stability belongs alone to God; He alone, of all beings, is without variableness or shadow of a turning. He is immutable; He will not change. He is all-wise; He need not change. He is perfect; He cannot change.”

“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Romans 11:33–36

The benefits of salvation are beyond the ability of our limited human understanding to fully grasp. Those benefits, received because of God’s grace alone, change everything about this life and about eternity as well. The mercy God extends to us provides access to the full resources of Heaven—a staggering power and wealth that is available to us as children of the King.

Yet too often Christians live without tapping into what is available to them. We would be shocked if we heard that one of Bill Gates’ children were living on the streets in poverty, given the great wealth of their parents that they could call on for help. As children of God we have a far greater resource from which to draw. God does not promise all that anyone would wish, but He does promise to meet every need by His great power.

Someone wrote: “In Christ we have…
A love that can never be fathomed.
A life that can never die.
A righteousness that can never be tarnished.
A peace that can never be understood.
A rest that can never be disturbed.
A joy that can never be diminished.
A hope that can never be disappointed.
A glory that can never be clouded.
A light that can never be darkened.
A purity that can never be defiled.
A beauty that can never be marred.
A wisdom that can never be baffled.
Resources that can never be exhausted.”

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Matthew 6:19–21

When George Truett was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, he was invited to dinner at the home of a wealthy Texas rancher. After the meal, the host led Truett to a place where they could get a good view of the surrounding area. Pointing north at a field of oil wells, he boasted, “Twenty-five years ago I had nothing. Now, as far as you can see, it’s all mine.” He then turned and pointed south at vast fields of grain and said, “That’s all mine.” Turning east toward huge herds of cattle, he bragged,
“They’re all mine.” Then pointing to the west and a beautiful forest, he exclaimed, “All of that lumber is all mine too.” Truett pointed up and gently asked, “How much do you own in that direction?”

Whether we have great wealth in this world or are barely getting by, everything around us is temporal. Our focus should be not on the things that are fleeting, but on the things that are eternal. The wealth of this world will vanish in flames. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). But what we have done for God, what we have given to His work, what we have invested in the lives of others will remain. It cannot be taken away, for what is established in Heaven is eternal.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”

1 Corinthians 3:12–14

There is an old story of a man who dreamed of visiting Heaven. In his dream, after he was shown through the wonders of the beautiful city, he asked to see the mansion where he would be living for eternity. To his shock, he was taken to a run down shack that looked completely out of place among the surrounding splendor. When he asked why this tiny and dilapidated building was to be his eternal home, he was told, “We did the best we could, but this was all we could build out of the materials you sent ahead.”

While the Bible does not teach that our mansions in Heaven are built from materials we provide, it does teach that there are rewards for those who are faithful in their service and diligent in their stewardship of what God has provided. Each of us faces the choice between living for what is eternal and living for what is temporal. And while we may be able to deceive those around us, the fire of God’s judgment will reveal the truth.

There are some whose lives are judged a great success by those around them because of their material prosperity, but if that God-given increase is not put to work for His kingdom, then there will be only ashes left when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. The truth that eternal reward awaits should motivate us to choose our building materials with great care so that we will be glad when we stand before the Lord.

“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”

James 5:1–4

The economy was riding high in the fall of 1929. The stock market had reached record territory, and noted economist Irving Fisher declared the new highs were “a permanent plateau.” But in October the crash that triggered the Great Depression wiped out billions of dollars in the space of a few days. Lines began to form outside of soup kitchens. It became common to see men in formal suits standing in lines to receive free food. The riches on which they had depended had proven fleeting, despite the confidence they once inspired. It would take twenty-five years, until 1954, before the stock market finally regained the level it had reached before the crash.

Those who count on wealth for their security are doomed to disappointment, for wealth at best is temporal and fleeting. There is no such thing as a completely secure investment here on earth. Solomon wrote, “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven” (Proverbs 23:5). It is not wrong to have financial resources, but it is wrong to rely on them instead of relying on the God who provided them in the first place. Instead of trusting in wealth, we must trust in God alone to provide for the future.