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

Are You Uncomfortable With Sin?

Benjamin Franklin was quoted as saying, I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. — I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. To sum up this thought, if we want to get someone out of poverty, we need to make them uncomfortable with it. Think about it. If someone is in relative comfort, being taken care of by everyone else and not doing for themselves, then they will remain in poverty. If on the other hand, they have to rely more on themselves to get out of their situation, they may get ...

Can a Christian Celebrate a Secular Christmas?

Can a Christian celebrate a secular Christmas? This is a good question and one that deserves an honest answer. This week I read the following, “If you don’t talk about Jesus at Christmas time, you miss Jesus. If you do not sing those scriptural songs focusing on Jesus, you miss Jesus. You might have grown up in a church where “Christmas” was a “Jesus-free” day.” These were some accusations leveled against some brethren by a well-known preacher in our brotherhood. In this article, I wish to set the record straight on how it is rather simple to celebrate a secular Christmas and it not be a “Jesus-free” day. I contend that no day is “Jesus free” for a New Testament Christian. First, this brother accuses the church “of not knowing what to do with Christmas. They celebrate it in their homes, but avoid it at all costs in church.” I contend that the preachers who preach the whole counsel of God know what to do with...

Why Should I be Merciful?

Why should I be merciful? This is a question that you may not have asked yourself before. Maybe mercy is something that you are given often. For others, maybe we have forgotten the goodness of the mercy God has shown to us. Jesus said after all, "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matt.5:7) To answer the question, we must first define mercy. What is Mercy M ercy which comes from the word eleeo ( ἐ λεέω) and describes the act of showing compassion and pity on someone. God perfectly exemplifies mercy. Paul recognized the mercy that God showed him while he sinned in ignorance. I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service; though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy , because I did it ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Faith...

Ironworks

Search This Blog