WORK HARD FOR WHO? / I Timothy 6:1-2

I have worked for and under a lot of different people, some who were Christians and some who were not. My witness is all about my visable respect for them, whether they are saved or not.

"All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them." I Timothy 6:1-2 

Of course Paul was teaching about actual slaves and we are not slaves. But, the principle of matter still holds. Work as unto the Lord. Do the best you can. Whatever you do you do as a representative of Christ. 

I once was a food server at a Mimi's Cafe. There was this one man and his son who would come in after church on Sunday nights. He would have coffee and maybe a dessert. He would leave maybe $0.50 and a tract for a tip. And he was a bit rude, too. Of course all the food servers thought he was a jerk for stiffing them on the tip and then leaving a tract. They would always complain to me because they knew I was a Christian. Finally, I told the guy that if he wanted any of the food servers to read the tract he needed to leave a bigger tip. 

Here's the deal: If you are a Christian you represent Christ. What will you be remembered for being? Will your integrity and honesty  be the impression you leave? 

Father, help us to work hard, even as working for you. Praise be to you in us today!

NEEDED: YOU: I Thessalonians 5:14

Sometimes I need to leave my class to meet with parents and other staff members. Another teacher will cover my class. Just before I leave I give them a few important instructions. Paul gives the Thessalonians a few last instructions that I think can help us too.

"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." I Thessalonians 5:14 

There is a certain group of people, you know, the ones who always start conversations with expressions like, "You know what you should do..." or, "Why don't they...". They're the "Here I am send him/her" people. They tend to be critical but not helpful. That is why Paul instructs the whole church, not just the leadership, to warn those who are idle. Did you get that? He tells them to warn them, not help them. In II Thessalonians 3:10 Paul reminds them that he told them, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 

Then we are told to encourage the timid. Some versions translate this as feeble-minded. Some people just need to encouragement to get going. Who do you know who needs you to encourage them? 

Next we are to help the weak. We all have our strength. We all have our weaknesses. If you think you don't, that's yours. Sometimes to be Christlike is to just come along side someone and sort of walk with them from time to time.

Finally, be patient with everyone. That's the reality, isn't it. We all need to be recipients of someone else's patience more often than we know. That's when we get back to the truth that we love because Christ first loved us. God's is very patient with me. I have no right to not be patient with someone else. I am not saying it is easy, I am only saying it is what we are called to do. 

Father, thank you for your warnings, encouragement, help and patience towards us. Thank you for your love. Help us to love as you loved us. Praise be to you in us today!

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: I Thessalonians 4:11-12

When I turned sixteen my parents told me I could wear the clothes I wanted and do several things I wanted to, I just had to pay for them myself. So, I got a job. My parents taught my siblings and I the work ethic and self reliance this way. It is our family culture. It has been passed down the generations and I believe it is Biblical. The following verses in Thessalonians teach us to self reliant. 

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."                  I Thessalonians 4:11-12

I guess this is why I have such a hard time with much of the political message of those on the left. It is a very dangerous thing to start talking about having the right to anything other than the pursuit of happiness. I have the right to mind my own business and work for what I want. 

I know this sounds a bit political but, if anyone tells me that my beliefs should not influence my political opinions then they are being entirely dishonest about why they vote the way they do.  

What Paul is telling the Thessalonians to do is to focus on providing for themselves. Remember, Paul was a self-supporting missionary. He provided for needs by his own tent making business and then served others. He is talking to people who were waiting for the second coming of Christ. They were forgetting to take care of the here and now. Paul reminds them that being a disciple of Christ is being a servant of Christ. We are to be givers. We work so that we might give. 

This isn't really about giving money because Paul worked to take care of his personal needs so he could be a minister of the gospel with out asking for money. Like Paul we should make it our ambition to not be dependent on anyone so that we might serve others.

Fathers, help us to be able to serve others. Provide jobs for those who need them. Use us to share your gospel with the world around us. Praise be to you in us today!