Text: Acts 20:32-35; 1 Thess 2:9-13
Introduction:
Why do you work?
A common answer may be to take care of yourself,your family and keep some by for use on a rainy day! But this is not entirely true as we are meant to still be able to take care of the weak amongst us such that there there is no lack amongst the people(acts 2:45;4:34-35).
God expects you to work hard as unto him and not as menpleasers. Even before the helpmeet came in the beginning, God gave Adam work to do.(Gen 2:15).
What is labour?
(American Heritage dictionary)
i productive work especially physical toil done for wages.
ii particular job or task especially of a difficult nature.
iii. to strive or work hard for something to reach a goal.
What is hardwork?
– Habitually working diligently(characterised by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks) for long hours-Staying power.
– Hardwork is a key to success and success is what matters in every goal.
– No hardwork no glory…. Prov 6:9-11.
– Being intelligent does not translate to hardwork because you can be intelligent and still be unable to achieve your goals unless you work hard.
– hardwork can change your destiny.
– commitment and persistence must be added to hardwork.
The Apostle Paul’s example-
Ac 22:3; 18:1-4.
A pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin, a teacher of the law of Moses, trained under Gamaliel,a Rabbi himself but earned his living by making tents during the week(joined with Acquilla and Priscilla) and on sabbaths, he devoted to preaching in the synagogues.
He worked for a living.
Sadly today and even then, many religious leaders saw the ministry as a way to get financial gain(1 Tim 6:5). which is a bad testimony for the gospel and it does not honour God!
His goal- To reach the lost.
His decisions-
i Not to depend on tithes and offerings for his income. 1 cor 16:2.
ii.To work hard at mannual labour so that he wouldn’t have to get money from the people whom he converted.
iii. To leave behind his emerging career as a jewish rabbi that would have given him social prestige, pride, influence in the community and good income.
Two Reasons for his decisions:-
1. He did not want to be an obstacle to the lost souls!
-the gospel is free! Nobody should endure appeals for donations whilst hearing about Christ.
-no excuse to reject the gospel or criticise the church.
Paul understood that many of his members were very poor and did not want to burden them unneecessarily so he willingly decided to sustain himself. He however wanted the members to tithe to the church but that no offerings be taken in his presence. 1 cor 16:2.
2. To set an example!
-for the believers both young and old, so they would see the value of getting jobs, working hard and earning a living to support themselves and their families.
– He wanted the church to be full of members with a strong work ethic to be productive and responsible.(Col 3:25; Tit 3:14).
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives; then the world around them would see the christians as hardworking, honest and responsible people.
Effects-
The. Church will have plenty of funds for everything it needed because the members would have stable incomes from which they could tithe to the church.
The members would also develop skills and knowledge in their jobs and carreers that would be useful for the Lords work!
Apostle Paul whilst doing the work of the ministry, he supported himself by making tents ie, he worked two jobs and worked twice as hard as the other apostles who were in full time ministry.(1 cor 4:12; 9:6-12)!
Only when he was in prison, shipwrecked and unable to earn his own wages did he have to depend on offerings and charity from the brethren.
He was not ashamed to humble himself and do some of the lowest forms of work.
His messages were not with enticing words(flattery), they were simple, short and direct. He didn’t preach like a professional or a motivational speaker(1 Thes 2:5-6).
His was not to be seen as a spiritual compromise or serving two masters but rather a High Spiritual Calling. This is a great example for us and it is an illustration of a life dedicated fully to Jesus! It makes God famous and brings glory to Him(1 Thes 3:8-10.
Summary(1 Thess 2:9-10):-
Apostle Paul performed physical labour, he was devout, upright and blameless among believers!
A bible commentary says “This policy (working night and day) not only reflected a desire to be formally independent among those whom they ministered but it also marked them off from the ordinary religious traffickers of the day and showed the converts a good example!!!
Note- none of Pauls travelling companions ate anything for free. They worked hard night and day to prevent oweing anybody any favours.
He commanded that none should eat if they are lazy and not working and personally considered those who refused to work to be disorderly busy bodies who should be avoided.(2 Thess 3:11-13).
The Lord is calling us to a higher spiritual service grounded in love that will make Him famous!
May He find us working worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God such that as we go out there into the market place, our testimony shall indeed honour God and make Him to be proud of us. Halleluyah!!!
Success Requires Vision
Introduction-
What is Success?
– For you to achieve success, you must define what it means to you. Until you have a clear vision of what success is to you,you will never be able to work towards it.
– it means different things to different people example for some, it is monetary reward, being a measure of success. It could also be career related, health, spiritual, emotional etc…
Finding out your own definition of success will require you to think deep within yourself and question your values in life.
– what are your strengths and weaknesses?
– what are the things that are important to you?
Don’t you look at one another to measure how successful you are because there is no wisdom in comparison(2 cor 10:12).
We can safely infere here that success cannot be a destination but a journey.
Vision- a major requirement of success! (Hab 2:1-3).
– helps us to see the possibilities of tomorow with the realities of today and motivates us to do what needs to be done.
Bill Copeland said that the trouble of not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field without scoring.
What is Vision?(Hab 2:1-3).
– a discovery of Gods plan for your life.
– foresight with insight.
– starting something with the end in mind.
Note: – whatever the mind can. conceive, believe that it can also be acheived.
– Vision is not the same as ambition; Ambition is what man desires to become in life, vision is what God created you to become.
– The meeting point of the two is when the will of man is lost in the will of God. Therefore, Vision is higher than ambition.
How to get Vision?(Hab 2:1-3).
i. Stand upon your watch:
-seperate yourself from the crowd(your vision is not common and it is unique to you! (eg. Daniel- dan 1:8, Joseph gen 39:8-9).
ii. Watch:
-watching unto prayer; with prayer, grace, alertness and direction are given to the vision.(Watchfulness will keep the vision from being forgotten).
iii. Write the Vision:
– A vision not written will soon be forgotten.
Your brain doesn’t have the capacity to retain all the information. God Himself wrote His vision for creation in the scriptures!
iv. Run with the Vision:
– your vision must carry along with it activities as a daily routine and it must connect with people who are ready to run with it(relationship).
– it must be what you daily live for( remember, whatever you feed grows, and whatever you starve dies so make up your mind to daily feed your vision).
– Vision plus action equals realisation!
v. ) Get the right timing.
– a timeless vision is an unaccomplisheable vision(eccl 3).
– when the timing of a vision is missed, frustration sets in.( Ex 17:14; 1 Sam 15:9-15)..
Note: When you have no vision for your life, you walk aimlessly and live carelessly and die shamefully.
How to achieve Success through the instrument of vision.
i. Concentrate on one main goal.( Be focused).
ii. Have an excellent oriented mentality ie continual improvement.
iii. Forget the past!
– Dont drag the past behind you.
– Remember, no matter what you faced in the past, you have the potential to overcome it!
iv. Focus on the future.
– your potential lies ahead of you no matter how old you think you may be. There is still room to improve yourself.
You can become better tomorrow than you are today.
He who does not look ahead remains behind.
You have been wired to succeed, get hold of your vision and run with it.
Your future is glorious, you can make it!
God bless you!!!
- MAKING GOD FAMOUS: Honouring God As Apostle Paul - August 22, 2010
- ABIDE IN HIS PRESENCE - April 19, 2009