Devotion Comes First | The Position of Faithfulness

“His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord,” Matthew 25:21

There is something to be said about a job well done.  That oh-so-satisfying feeling when one has worked hard to see the fruition of a purpose being fulfilled and then steps back and announces, “Ah, it was hard but well worth it.”  One of my pet peeves is asking someone to perform a task for me and the job ends up only halfway done, with half-way effort.  It’s a very frustrating experience because I could have just done the job myself the right way but that defeats the purpose of delegating a duty in the first place. 

With that realization, I wonder how God must feel about the duties He has delegated to us?  In our daily walk have we dealt with our Christianity with that same half-way done effort or have we really gone for the gusto?  Have we really expressed ourselves as being faithful, manifesting all God is or has done in our lives?

Through that short stint of questioning the reality of it all hits me.  No!  The truth is, many of us are like the seed in the parable of the sower.  The cares of this world have encroached upon us, choking the spiritual vitality right out of us, leaving us with only half-hearted energy to do a halfway job for God.  Each of our lives is destined with purpose.  Each has been endowed with something wonderful and unique to contribute to this world.  God has chosen us to stand as ambassadors, to show this lost world how to be found and how to live in this world while having a flourishing relationship with Him.  Unfortunately, that cannot be accomplished if we are not as diligent in the care of the work of the Lord as He is to us. 

How will that great thing God put in you ever develop as an outgrowth of your faith if you are not faithful to it; if you are not faithful to Him?  For if one is faithful to Him, then are they faithful to all He has instilled in them.  How many wouldn’t like to hear, “Well done,” coming from the mouth of our Lord? Sometimes we work hard in this life, doing all we know how to do to stay above water, then after all the heartache, sweat, and tears, a voice speaks and confirms that it was not in vain.  “Well done.”

In order to receive that proclamation of good work, one has to be faithful.  The word “faithful” was used twice in this one verse alone.  First, it described the servant.  Then it was used again to describe his work ethic.  The servant was one who the master could count on because of his character, and also because of the way he handled the affairs of business.  Does that word describe us in either or both of those ways?  One without the other just won’t do.  James 2:17 tells us, “Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.”  What goes on on the inside of the believer should show up on the outside.  There should be some type of manifestation branching out of our faithfulness.  

Everyone in Christ is called to a life of devotion to God, giving Him priority, as characterized by faithfulness, and having that reach out in our daily affairs.   We are called to be that reliable, trustworthy person whom God doesn’t mind acknowledging as, “Well done,” and handing him or her more talents to care for. 

A life of faithfulness will get you there.  Take God off the back burner of your life and give Him precedence over all.  Rewards will come, but devotion comes first.  The harvest will come but only after the seeds have been planted.  The position of fulfilling purpose and accomplishing good works will always start with a position of faithfulness. 

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“Is Saul Among Us?”

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This election has many Americans reeling.  I’m sitting back and taking it all in.  I’m viewing the candidates, the people fighting for their champion to sit in the oval office, the news coverage; just everything.  To say that this is an unusual election is quite the understatement.

People are clamoring to make their electoral candidate the next president and I just shake my head and wonder how many are fighting just as hard to make God a priority in their life.  And, in case you think I’m just picking on this circus of an election you are wrong.  It was just a great place to start.  The fact of the matter is, people everyday are choosing other things and clamoring for other people over God.  They are choosing Saul in a sense and rejecting God.

In 1 Samuel 8, God’s people wanted to more like the nations surrounding them rather than the separate, chosen vessels they were as His.  They demanded a king to reign over them (vs. 5) and God recognized it for what it was: “They have rejected me, that I should not reign over them,” (vs. 7).

What is there that we want more than God?  That’s a tough question that most people will answer “absolutely nothing!”  And, rightfully so.  No one wants to accused of rejecting God.  Yet, in our daily lives do we really prioritize God as our number one?  Do we give Him the status in our lives and daily decisions that we should or do we allow other things and people to have the reign?

Is there a Saul among us?  When we peel back the layers of our lives do we find God at the center of all we do and who we are?  If we can’t answer yes to that question than we need to reevaluate the priority we have placed on God.

God is pulling for the hearts of His people but are His people pulling for Him?

Father God, Help us to be more aware of You everyday and in every way. Amen.

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