Well, I had my first vaccine 3 weeks ago, and later today I will get my second one. The question on my mind is…How protected am I? Am I now 50% protected? Will I be 95% protected tomorrow, in 2 weeks?
These questions remind me that as I grew up Catholic, I was never sure if I was protected from the consequences of my sin! 100%, 50%? Did I say enough penance? Will I need to go to purgatory? What if I sin and then die before going to a confessional?
Well…..The Good News is that if we proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior…we are saved…. we are 100% protected from the wages (eternal consequences) of our sin VIRUS!
Knowing that changes everything…our hope…our purpose…our morals and values…our priorities…and what we value!
The story is told about an American company that opened a new plant in Central America because the labor was plentiful and inexpensive. Everything went well until the villagers received their first pay check; afterward they did not return to work. Several days later the manager went down to the chief to determine the cause of the problem. The chief responded “Why should we work? Now we have everything we want and need.”
The plant stood idle for two months until someone came up with the brilliant idea of sending a mail-order catalog to every villager. There has never been an employment problem since!
So, what about you? What’s in the “mail-order catalog” (or on-line shopping site) that you think will satisfy you! We are bombarded by tv commercials and pop-up ads telling us that “you deserve to have it your way” To be truly happy you need a new car, better hair and skin, toys for the kids, more insurance, and the list goes on and on.
Now, please do not miss my point. These items are fine to attain, But the question is whether these things can ever satisfy you. The answer to that is “NO.” These things that we spend our time chasing will only lead to newer, fancier, and costlier things to chase after. There are countless verses that tell us that only God can satisfy us.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)… Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Psalm 107:9 (ESV)…For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)… May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I guess the question is…What am I searching for? What is my purpose? What will bring true happiness? Who am I trying to please? Who or what do I work for?
One day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. He was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.
About that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. He noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. “You aren’t going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman to the fisherman. “You should be working rather than lying on the beach!”
The fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled, and replied, “And what will my reward be?”
“Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer.
“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling.
The businessman replied, “You will make money and you’ll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!”
“And then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again.
The businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions. “You can buy a bigger boat and hire some people to work for you!” he said.
“And then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman.
The businessman was getting angry. “Don’t you understand? You can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!”
Once again the fisherman asked, “And then what will my reward be?”
The businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “Don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! You can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. You won’t have a care in the world!”
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “And what do you think I’m doing right now?”
A lot of people work very hard, trying to gain (or buy) happiness. They work hard to accumulate enough money to buy happiness thru what they can purchase…. but there is a flaw in that approach to life. The businessman in this story totally missed the point on what is important in life!
God’s Word tells us that we should work to bring God glory. Work is actually a way to worship God! Paul tells us in:
Colossians 3:23…Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for God, not for men”
Whatever you do….at work or play should be done as if you are doing it for (and thru) the Lord!
Colossians 3:17… And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So…take some time to assess all areas of your life…where do you fall short of glorifying the Lord? Are there areas that He is not glorified…areas where you are not worshiping Him by your words, thoughts, actions, motives?
Have you thought about the 2 verses above that say “whatever you do”? We are all wired, equipped, and placed in different places….but we all have a common way to approach our lives. One that says “whatever” we are doing, we do it for and through the Lord!
Humor for the day: Some not so funny one-liners!
Q: What happens if you eat yeast and shoe polish? Every morning you’ll rise and shine!
Q: What do you call a boy who finally stood up to the bullies? An ambulance.
Q: What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk.
Q: What do you call an elephant that doesn’t matter? An irrelephant.
Q: What do you call a fat psychic? A four chin teller.
Q: How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it!