God wants each of us to work. We can see this from the beginning, in the book of Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” God did not want us to be lazy but wants us to work for a living. God himself set an example for us by making the heavens and the earth and everything in it in 6 days and resting on the 7th day. We should similarly work and rest on the 7th day. Most of us Christians follow this model, we work for 6 days and rest on Sunday where we attend Church, worship with fellow believers and feed on His Word. But is it enough, that we feed on God’s Word only once a week?
Life has changed a lot in the 21st century. Some of us have to work in shifts, some of us have to work on a Sunday, and some of us put in extra hours to make extra money. Stress due to work also has considerably increased and most of us wind down at the end of the day in front of the TV or with our mobiles. We sleep and again get up the next morning and get back to the same routine. How many of us give time to reading the Word and praying? We don’t even get time to attend Bible studies or prayer meetings. And slowly we become content that at least we attend Church on a Sunday. But we don’t realize that somehow even our Sunday has become a routine and we only attend because we feel it is what we are supposed to do. We take out time for other “fun” things, but somehow everything related to God takes a backseat. So this question arises, are we too busy for God?
When we are jobless, we pray for a job and later when God blesses us with a job we get too busy to set apart some time for Him. Sometimes we pray for luxuries, like mobile phones, TV etc, and then these become the very things that keep you busy. We tend to forget the God who blesses us with the job, blesses us with the strength to do the job. I am sure it is Satan’s ploy to keep us busy and to keep us so engrossed us in the things of the world and things of the flesh that we don’t think much of our Spiritual wellbeing or to the closeness to the end of this Age.
Satan knows his time is short. We ourselves can see how close we are to the Tribulation. In His Olivet Discourse mentioned in Matthew 24, Jesus mentions the signs before His Second Coming. We have seen earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, wars in the Middle East and rumors of wars all over and all this in the last few years, increasing in frequency and intensity. We have seen how low humanity is stooping where even innocent children are not spared. Since it is not happening to us, we do not concern ourselves with it. I feel that the intensity of evil is increasing just like it was in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot. We are bombarded with so much bad news that evil has lost its shock value.
That is exactly what Satan wants, that we don’t take all these signs seriously. Instead of going down on our knees and standing in the gap, for our unbelieving family, friends, our nation and for our Christian brothers and sisters who are facing persecutions around the world, Satan just keeps us busy with our work or with entertainment. In Luke 21:28 Jesus says, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” We are at the cusp of history where some of us will in the twinkling of an eye be transformed and be in the presence of God in heaven. Yet we live our lives planning for ourselves way ahead in our earthly future and make no time for our Creator with whom we will spend eternity.
Jonathan Edwards, a 17th century theologian said, “How can you expect to dwell with God forever, if you so neglect and forsake Him here?” It is a question we need to ask ourselves. If we don’t set apart time to know our Lord who gave His life for us so that we can be reconciled to God, the Father, if we get bored with the Bible reading and the praying and the worshipping, what do we expect to do in heaven then?
2 Corinthians 13:5 says “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?.” Let us examine ourselves and see where we stand with regards to our faith. And if we do realize or if the Holy Spirit does convict us that we have fallen short of what God expects of us, then let us ask God for forgiveness and change our ways. Let us make God our first priority and not our last resort. We should not go to Him when in trouble but as the Bible says that we need to pray without ceasing. Any relationship will prosper the more the people in the relationship converse and share with each other. It is the same with our relationship with God. We can share our problems, our concerns, our petitions in front of Him and seek His answers which we can get mainly through the Bible or from any source that God chooses. We need to seek His will in our lives. We need to seek what is His purpose in our life. We need to be empty vessels, ready to be used in whichever way possible, according to His will.
The last few minutes or seconds of the end of this Age is upon us, let us be busy in God’s kingdom and not be busy to gain temporary earthly treasures or busy with momentary pleasures. Matthew 6:19-21 says “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal, because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If God is our treasure then we will do all we can to have a relationship with Him, to love what he loves and hate what he hates, and to always be available to do His will. The Bible says we need to work and if someone does not work let him not eat. But don’t let your work, or your dreams, or your entertainment become your master. Instead, allow God to be the Master of your life and be available for Him, for any purpose that He chooses you to do, like spreading the Gospel, helping our Christian brethren who are in need, fellowshipping with and encouraging new believers etc.
Let us remember this verse as we live the rest of our days by His saving grace, awaiting His return, Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” I pray that all of us will continue to seek His will in our life, and continue to grow in the knowledge and wisdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us abide in Him and bear fruits, and also help each other in our Christian walk.
God bless you. MARANATHA
Robby James
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