Who Are You?

It is in the most difficult situations that we really find out who we are. The church at Corinth had experienced some tough times. Paul writes of a group that just simply did not have much means. However, they begged to be part of the great work of Paul. When was the last time you begged to be part of God’s work? I have heard people through the years say they had not been asked to do this or that in the church and so they were hurt. These people were “begging us earnestly for favor in taking part in the relief of the saints”. WOW! However, notice this point, “They gave themselves first to the Lord”. I guess when you give yourself first to the Lord you cannot help but beg to be part of His work. Last thing! “Then by the will of God to us”. They gave themselves to Paul and his disciples. These were begging followers of the Lord. WOW! AMAZING!!!

2 Cor 8:4-5 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Is the End In Mind?

Begin with the end in mind. I have heard this statement all my life but have not adhered to it in many areas. If I had many things would be different. I would weigh less than 200 pounds, I would be debt free, my children’s college would be paid for, my wife would not have to work, I would have led more people to Christ and in a deeper relationship with Him, I would have spent more time with my mom, dad and brother. I have seen the movie It’s A Wonderful Life, so I understand that side of things. But what if we approached our Christian life with the end in mind. I want to be a faithful follower of Christ. I want my wife to be a faithful follower of Christ. I want my children to be faithful followers of Christ. I want my friends and family to be faithful followers of Christ. I want to see our community become faithful followers of Christ. But, from where I stand it does not appear that these things just happen. Our church needs to approach every move we make with the end in mind. What is the end? Following Christ in all areas of life. Jesus, Paul, Peter and many more clearly understood the end and made their decisions with the end in mind. I go to the gym with the end in mind. I change my eating with the end in mind. I study God’s Word with the end in mind. On a day-to-day scale I see little change but as I look at it from a broader perspective there is a difference. Today, begin to live your life with the end in mind.