"But I said, 'I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God'" (Isa. 49:4, NIV). "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me..." (Psalm 138:8, ESV). "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work you gave me to do" (John 17:4, ESV).
The night will come when labor ceases and no man can work (cf. John 9:4), and evaluation or judgment takes place, the reward according to our deeds. Some people of great faith made good on it and produced labors worthy of their God-given faith, which was God's gift to them, not their gift to God, just like our righteousness is by grace. We are all here for a purpose to fulfill and if the bugle doesn't give a distinct call, no one will be ready for battle (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8). The psalmist said that the LORD will fulfill His purpose for him (cf. Pss. 138:8; 57:2). We are all here for a reason and we must find our calling to be fulfilled persons in the will of God.
The only happy people, according to Albert Schweitzer, are those who've learned to serve. It is in serving that we find our mission; only those who've never ventured out of their comfort zones and tried to serve don't know of any spiritual gift or grace from God. We must even serve if we don't think it's our gift and make ourselves available, for availability is the greatest ability. God does indeed call us to faithfulness in what He does bestow and not to success, which is up to Him to make the seed grow and provide life.
Paul was aware that he must suffer many things for the sake of the cross. The more God blesses us, the more is expected from us, for to whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48). Paul said, "The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me" (Acts 20:24, NCV). It may seem that our work is in vain, but Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:58 that no work done in the name of the Lord is in vain.
Sometimes we don't comprehend the purpose of our efforts or the seeming fruitlessness, and it all seems in vain, as Isaiah said in Isa. 49:4 that his work seemed "useless." This is merely a test of faith to see what our true motives and intentions are, just as God withdrew from Hezekiah to see what was on his heart (cf. 2 Chron. 32:21). It has been proven that a person can endure nearly any trial if he sees purpose in it; Job was put on trial for no fault of his own and shows us the ultimate in patience in testing and the lesson that God is always just in the end and will reward us for the year the locust has eaten (cf. Joel 2:25) or make it up to us for the bad years with good ones (cf. Psalm 90:15. We are never in a no-win situation with God and it always pays to trust in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5).
The most rewarding epitaph we can have is "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" To know that the Lord will be pleased with our labors and that we will be deemed good and faithful servants of what He entrusted us with is an intrinsic reward in itself. True holiness, according to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is doing the will of God with a smile! We are formed to serve God and can only find fulfillment in doing that; a "non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms," according to Rick Warren. When we leave to our reward let us be like Jesus, who said, "I have finished the work You have given me to do" (cf. John 17:4).
We were created to be servants and will only find fulfillment in finding service! Even Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (cf. Mark 10:45). We don't serve to be noticed or to make a name for ourselves, but to bring glory to God and to do it in His name! Many people are willing to serve, but for the wrong motive--we must be pure before God and do it by the power of the Spirit, as Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit."
We must be willing to keep a low profile and not draw attention to ourselves when the real glory belongs to God. Some people are merely people-pleasers or work with eye service to gain the approbation of man, like to curry favoritism, but we must focus on the eternal goal and serve in light of eternity, where we will be rewarded--for some, their reward and portion is in this life (cf. Psa. 17:14). See yourself as a special agent of God on special assignment or in the secret service! Remember we are created unto good works and are expected to fulfill the mission assigned us faithfully, which was even foreordained for us and planned out by God (cf. Eph. 2:10).
The right mental attitude is one of excellence and of doing our best for the Lord, for there is a curse on one who does the Lord's work with slackness (cf. Jer. 48:10). We ought to have the frame of mind to do our utmost for His Highest. It's all right to have godly ambition, but "selfish ambition" is forbidden and worldly, not spiritual (cf. Jer. 45:5; Phil. 2:3). In other words, do not "seek great things" for yourself, but look out for the Lord's interests and expect big things from Him as you attempt big things [plans or projects] for Him, as William Carey said. Soli Deo Gloria!
The night will come when labor ceases and no man can work (cf. John 9:4), and evaluation or judgment takes place, the reward according to our deeds. Some people of great faith made good on it and produced labors worthy of their God-given faith, which was God's gift to them, not their gift to God, just like our righteousness is by grace. We are all here for a purpose to fulfill and if the bugle doesn't give a distinct call, no one will be ready for battle (cf. 1 Cor. 14:8). The psalmist said that the LORD will fulfill His purpose for him (cf. Pss. 138:8; 57:2). We are all here for a reason and we must find our calling to be fulfilled persons in the will of God.
The only happy people, according to Albert Schweitzer, are those who've learned to serve. It is in serving that we find our mission; only those who've never ventured out of their comfort zones and tried to serve don't know of any spiritual gift or grace from God. We must even serve if we don't think it's our gift and make ourselves available, for availability is the greatest ability. God does indeed call us to faithfulness in what He does bestow and not to success, which is up to Him to make the seed grow and provide life.
Paul was aware that he must suffer many things for the sake of the cross. The more God blesses us, the more is expected from us, for to whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luke 12:48). Paul said, "The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me" (Acts 20:24, NCV). It may seem that our work is in vain, but Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:58 that no work done in the name of the Lord is in vain.
Sometimes we don't comprehend the purpose of our efforts or the seeming fruitlessness, and it all seems in vain, as Isaiah said in Isa. 49:4 that his work seemed "useless." This is merely a test of faith to see what our true motives and intentions are, just as God withdrew from Hezekiah to see what was on his heart (cf. 2 Chron. 32:21). It has been proven that a person can endure nearly any trial if he sees purpose in it; Job was put on trial for no fault of his own and shows us the ultimate in patience in testing and the lesson that God is always just in the end and will reward us for the year the locust has eaten (cf. Joel 2:25) or make it up to us for the bad years with good ones (cf. Psalm 90:15. We are never in a no-win situation with God and it always pays to trust in the Lord and lean not unto our own understanding (cf. Prov. 3:5).
The most rewarding epitaph we can have is "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!" To know that the Lord will be pleased with our labors and that we will be deemed good and faithful servants of what He entrusted us with is an intrinsic reward in itself. True holiness, according to Mother Teresa of Calcutta, is doing the will of God with a smile! We are formed to serve God and can only find fulfillment in doing that; a "non-serving Christian is a contradiction in terms," according to Rick Warren. When we leave to our reward let us be like Jesus, who said, "I have finished the work You have given me to do" (cf. John 17:4).
We were created to be servants and will only find fulfillment in finding service! Even Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (cf. Mark 10:45). We don't serve to be noticed or to make a name for ourselves, but to bring glory to God and to do it in His name! Many people are willing to serve, but for the wrong motive--we must be pure before God and do it by the power of the Spirit, as Zechariah 4:6 says, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit."
We must be willing to keep a low profile and not draw attention to ourselves when the real glory belongs to God. Some people are merely people-pleasers or work with eye service to gain the approbation of man, like to curry favoritism, but we must focus on the eternal goal and serve in light of eternity, where we will be rewarded--for some, their reward and portion is in this life (cf. Psa. 17:14). See yourself as a special agent of God on special assignment or in the secret service! Remember we are created unto good works and are expected to fulfill the mission assigned us faithfully, which was even foreordained for us and planned out by God (cf. Eph. 2:10).
The right mental attitude is one of excellence and of doing our best for the Lord, for there is a curse on one who does the Lord's work with slackness (cf. Jer. 48:10). We ought to have the frame of mind to do our utmost for His Highest. It's all right to have godly ambition, but "selfish ambition" is forbidden and worldly, not spiritual (cf. Jer. 45:5; Phil. 2:3). In other words, do not "seek great things" for yourself, but look out for the Lord's interests and expect big things from Him as you attempt big things [plans or projects] for Him, as William Carey said. Soli Deo Gloria!
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