Doing Things God's Way

Some of Bible doesn't appear to have much spiritual value at first glance. But, a thorough study will uncover valuable truths and insights. I Corinthians 16 is like that.  In that text, Paul identifies as well as describes the Lord's work. It seems as we read this text that Paul is having conflicting thoughts: "I'm going here but I might go there." "If Timothy arrives, take care of him." "I wanted Appollos to come but he didn't want to." How can we benefit from such seemingly insignificant material? The key to text is the phrase, "the work of the Lord" (vs. 10). In I Corinthians 15:58 it says, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." So, Paul's talking about God's work in these verses. He is saying, 'You ought to be always abounding in God's work, as Timothy and I are.'

By way of introduction, let me mention that the Lord's work is Demanding. Those who do it need to be "unmoveable, always abounding." (15:58). Eccl. 9:10 says, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."  Did you ever hear someone say, "You're doing too much"? Perhaps you're not! Perhaps you're properly applying I Corinthians 15:58! God's Work is Demanding.

It is also Exhausting. The Bible never describes it as being easy. "Work" and "labor" (I Cor. 15.58) - carry idea of exhaustion. Paul had in mind the kind of toil that involved sacrifice, that wears and weakens. Paul said that about Epaphroditus - "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." He didn't regard his own life. He was always abounding in work of the Lord. God's work is both exhausting and demanding.

But, it is also Rewarding. I Corinthians 15:58b - "...forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." It won't be empty, pointless, useless or unproductive. It will make a difference & produce fruit. 

Now, we need to be involved in God's work & we need to do God's work God's way! (if we want to receive His approval). II Timothy. 2:15 commands us to  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Work hard and meet His standards. Don't build with "wood, hay and stubble," but with "gold, silver, and precious stones." (I Cor. 3:12). 4. Our works will be tested at the Judgment Seat of Christ. There are Christians whose works will be destroyed that day by Christ's judgment fire and declared worthless.

Paul is describing his work and that of Timothy and Appollos, In doing so he gives us some practical ideas for doing God's work God's Way.

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE. 

Anyone committed to God's work & motivated to reach others is going to see many needs that haven't been met yet. He will always be planning how to meet them. He will have vision! He will never be satisfied with what's being done. He focuses on what's not being done & that's why he plans ahead, looking for new worlds to conquer. He faces the reality of unmet opportunity, waiting for new doors to open.

Paul said in verse 5, "Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia." Paul wrote I Corinthians at the end of a 3 year stay at Ephesus. According to II Corinthians 1:15-16, Paul originally planned to go to Corinth, Macedonia and then back to Corinth. He had a plan but he changed it. He went straight to Macedonia, then to Corinth, and finally to Jerusalem. He wanted to go to the Corinthian church because it was struggling with internal problems. He was busy in Ephesus, God was using him, many were being saved and growing in Christ, but he was planning ahead - he had a vision for what needed to be done in Corinth and Macedonia.

We must have a sense of Vision in God's work! Analyze what isn't being done and plan to get it done. We must not wear blinders or only focus on immediate tasks.  Paul was always haunted by the regions beyond. He had a vision for a world yet unreached. He was never completely satisfied.

Give yourself fully to the task at hand, but still maintain a vision for the future. Don't get bogged down. We will never completely finish God's work. There is always more to do! And, prepare for the opportunities that God gives you! Get ready for them! An example is Nehemiah. He didn't approach King Artaxerxes and say, "I would like a ministry. Could you please find something for me to do with my people?" He said, "My people have a problem; they need their city and it's wall rebuilt. I want to do it and I have already figured out how it can be done. I simply need your permission to do it." Plan for the ministry. Prove yourself useful in the present - be ready when opportunity comes.

What are you planning to do for God? Where is your vision? There's a whole world without God! What's your strategy to reach them for Christ? So many say, "I'm waiting for God to give me something to do." You'll never do anything! You need A Vision for the Future.

About 350 years ago, a shipload of travelers landed on the NE coast of America. The first year they established a town site. The next year they elected a town government. The third year the town government planned to build a road 5 miles westward into the wilderness. In the fourth year the people tried to impeach their town government because they thought it was a waste of public funds to build a road five miles westward into a wilderness. Who needed to go there anyway? Here were people who had the vision to see 3000 miles across an ocean and overcome great obstacles to get there. But in just a few years they were not able to see even 5 miles out of town. They had lost their pioneering vision.