Skip to main content

Working for the Kingdom

 


Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labor which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.

Ecclesiastes 2:17-18

            “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Have you heard this famous adage? Before I was a full-time preacher I worked various jobs managing businesses. In each job I excelled. I gave it my all. In the end, I found myself in each situation feeling like King Solomon. Okay, maybe I was not all that dramatic. I never said I hated life, but my labor was pretty much unrewarding to me. I am grateful that I had the ability to work. I am grateful I was able to provide for my family. However, it just did not have the rewarding feeling that went along with it. That was my fault. Yes, my fault. I could have used each waking moment at work doing the greatest work for the kingdom in my job. Yet in all reality, I did not do all that I could.

            We do not have to live in a way. We do not have to  makes excuses for not sharing the Gospel with those we work and live alongside. We all truly believe that everyone needs the Gospel, but how are we doing at sharing the Gospel? This year has been full of ups and downs but we cannot let that be an excuse to be apathetic and unwilling to carry out the work we are called to do.

            In the foyer are copies of the second edition of House to House Heart to Heart. Some have been selectively sent out to addresses here in Grove. We encourage you to share these magazines with those in your circles. If you know a location where someone might allow you to place some copies we encourage you to do so. In the coming weeks as the elders continue to evaluate the data concerning Covid-19 we will look to reschedule our Personal Evangelism classes. I am truly excited about sharing this class and looking forward to our further work to expand the borders of the kingdom of God. We have a great job to do. Our lives have a purpose in Christ!

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Don't Raise an Ahaz

           Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.   And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree . 2 Kings 16:2-4                   When was the first time you drove a car? What about the first time you jumped off a diving board or gave a speech? After that first time, it certainly became easier. What about the first lie you told? Did it become easier? King Ahaz of Judah was evil and far from the example of David. Ahaz was the first to offer child sacrifices to t...

At the Feet of Jesus

          How amazing it must have been to sit at the feet of Jesus. Have you thought much about that? What would it have been like to be around the Master? It was obviously life altering for His disciples, the majority of which (by historical accounts) would go on to violent deaths. Christians would go on to be persecuted throughout the centuries. Why? Jesus is worth the shame (Acts 5:41). Jesus is worth it all, because “there is no other name, under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). It is for this very reason we think about how amazing it would have been to personally sit at the feet of Jesus. To Talk to Him Must Have Been Tender           Talking to Jesus must have been so tender. We know that He would tell people what they needed to hear, and sometimes that was rather forthright (see Matt. 23), but he was loving and compassionate to those who wanted to learn from Him. Remember when parents were b...

Hanging On

Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God  Hebrews 12:1-2      In order to hang on, you must let go. This seems counterproductive at first glance. If we let go, we might fall and get hurt. If we let go, we might hurt someone else, and we might even hurt ourselves. Yet, letting go can also allow us to hang on to what matters.       We can hang onto the righteousness of God. This helps us to run with patience. When the race is long and arduous, and when life doesn’t end up as we planned, we can look forward to letting go of the doubts and sins that tell us to quit, give up, and stop running...