Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another. ~Galatians 5:26 (AMP)
Many people believe the best place to be is ahead of everyone else. We are tempted incessantly to compare ourselves with others which causes us to lose sight of who the Lord wants us to be and what He wants us to do on a daily basis. The world is constantly telling us that we should exhaust every effort to get to the top no matter what we must compromise or who we have to hurt on the way up. But the Lord tells us that it is obedience to God that brings favor and promotion, and that kind comes with a clear conscience. Many people have attested to the fact that it is lonely at the top. That is usually because of all the relationships they have had to put on the back burner and sacrifice so that they could pursue what they deemed as success with their time and resources. Jesus said He came not to be served but to serve. We are supposed to have that same attitude. Who is the servant in your house? In your workplace? In your church? The bible teaches they are the greatest. They are the ones who have grasped 1 Corinthians 15:58 when the Lord said “…stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (NIV) Are you giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord or are you fully giving yourself to the work to the top? Are you more concerned about the bottom line than the hurting soul? Do you have time to minister to others or is your time consumed with what would be most beneficial for you and to your profit during the day?
Scripture encourages us to always do our best and there is nothing wrong with wanting to advance and do well, but promotion for the believer always comes from the Lord. He tells us in Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (NIV) The outcome of our dedication to the Lord verses dedication to ourselves in our work is the difference between a paycheck and an inheritance. You don’t work for an inheritance. You receive it because of your position in the family. The Lord says we are His family. We are His children. Our Heavenly Father owns it all! When we do everything with excellence and integrity because we want to please God first and foremost, we have a promise that He will be our rewarder. We don’t have to compromise our integrity in competition with others. We don't have to scratch our way to the top. We were born again at the top! Now we must learn to submit to the Lord and do things His way. We as believers are God’s chosen, we are His elect. We aren’t better than others. We just have the promise of God’s blessing on our lives. We should always live with that truth in mind. God gives us favor with Himself and others when we commit to live in obedience to Him rather than trying to promote ourselves.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. ~Proverbs 3:3-4 (NIV)
Who will you minister to today?
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