Invest in Others

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Be Generous and Do Good

⁶ Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:6-10 NKJV)

I remember conversations with my neighbor a number of years back, this was before I was ever married or saved. At this time in my life I had no significant other either. My neighbor was a woman getting divorced. Although I would see her around quite often, I had no desire dating her, as I felt that would be a disaster. Anyway, she would brag of how she took her husband for all his money, she was quite proud of it. Then she would go on bragging about how she planned to do the same to the next unfortunate guy who came along. I didn't know her long, but that attitude most likely lead to a life of misery and problems. This I knew, she was constantly dealing with problems and very few even people wanted to be around her.

Just think for a moment, how much trouble do we bring into our lives by taking the "It's all about me!" attitude? I believe a lack of concern for others and living for one's self is at the root of many problems, heartaches, divorces, broken families, and so on. When one is wrapped up in self, we fail to see the needs and feelings of others. It is not only what we say or do to someone, we fail to do what is good or right. Some may not even care how their actions effect someone else. If we let this self centered attitude grow, not only would it destroy relationships, it could lead us to commit crimes landing us in prison.Our prisons are full of people living for themselves. That got them a long ways in life didn't it? Then to take that further, a prideful self centered life may keep one from coming to the cross of Jesus Christ resulting in an eternity separated from God.

Maybe most of us do not go to the extreme as my ex-neighbor or those in prison, but we all have to battle with keeping self in the right place. I know I do. The Bible instructs us to do good and plant good seeds. In another words, invest in other peoples lives. When we help a believer in Christ who is in need, it is remembered in heaven, forever. When we have the opportunity to do good for an unsaved person, this might open the door to sharing Christ while making this person more receptive to the message of Jesus. This too, will be remembered in heaven for all eternity. Keep sharing the gospel, no telling how many eternal destinies God will change through it. When we invest in our marriages and families along with living life to bring glory to God, this leads to strong relationships. This too will remembered in heaven for all eternity. Our intercessory prayers will also be result in good things here on earth and remembered for all eternity.

Lord, your word say's I will reap what I sow. I desire to sow to the spirit, for I want to reap a bountiful harvest, not corruption. I must ask myself, am I going to sow to the flesh and reap corruption, or listed to God and sow to the spirit and reap a harvest which will last for all eternity?

Time Well Spent?

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I have been given thought lately to the subject of time. More precisely, how am I spending time in light of eternity? Am I making an eternal difference with my time? I, like everyone else, has 24 hours in a day, is it used wisely? I recognize there many things in life which are necessary, yet eat up time. Some of these include working, shopping for groceries,and maintaining our cars and homes. Just naming a few. Of course, it is good to set some time aside for rest and doing some fun things. Oh yes, these things may also be done to God's glory. However, am I doing well making time for things of eternal importance? I, like many other believers devote time to church, Bible study, prayer, serving, quality family time and so on.

Now let's pull this back a layer. What is my motive for setting time aside for the things of God? Oh how critical having a right heart is in all that we do. First, we must have an intimate love relationship with the Lord, then we must love what we do. When its is not in place, instead of experiencing joy, our work becomes burdensome. All we are doing  is trying to appease God or someone else. All this results in is whitewashing our outside in order to make us appear as though we are committed Christians. One, in fact, may be saved,yet saved as though fire. I do not want all I do in life to be burnt up. (See 1 Corinthians 3:9-15)  When everything we do is done out of love and built upon Christ, it is real. Loving Christ first and foremost, then building upon that foundation is critical to our life counting for eternal value.

 

1 Corinthians 13:1-8a

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Greatest Gift

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² 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, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails…

Sometimes we grow weary and tired because we bite off too much to chew. Sometimes one may be striving to accomplish something God has not called them to. This being said, when our walk becomes dry and our work becomes burdensome, one may in fact have a heart problem. If this is the case, take some time and examine your heart, one may need to return to their first love.
 

Revelation 2

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Loveless Church

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. ⁶ But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
⁷ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’

Let Us Not Become Weary

Do you ever feel like ”throwing in the towel?” Maybe you have spent years praying for a lost loved one to come to Christ, yet success seems as far away as the day you first began.

 

Or do you ever feel like withholding your giving so you can satisfy some want? After all, you labored all week and you want to go out and blow some money.


I do not know about you, but I have been there, done that. Oh how times I have set my eyes on something, go buy it, just to realize it is not cracked up to be what I thought it was. Then, to reimburse my wallet, the thought of withholding my giving comes to mind. I have to say, “Wait a minute, what’s wrong with this picture?” I also have loved ones who are not saved. I have been faithful in prayer and sharing Jesus with them, yet they remain uninterested. I begin to wonder “why bother?” The temptations are strong, but look at what God promises if we do not lose heart.


6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:6-10 NKJV)

 Lord, give us the strength that we “may not grow weary.” Help us to “press on,” for we trust, in due season we will reap, if we have not given up. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Imagine 100 years from now, we are praising God in heaven, our loved one comes to us saying “You were faithful, God heard your cry, and I am here!” Then, someone else came to you and saying “you were faithful, the Lord blessed, and I am here!” We can be sure, if we do not lose heart, we (and many others) will be eternally grateful.


Photography http://www.heartlight.org