Reluctant Retiree

Sometimes when I am in a group and serving others, I will do some little thing and someone will come right behind me and change it or do it again. When this happens, I feel like my efforts were in vain, that I didn’t really accomplish anything, and that I have been disrespected. Sometimes, no matter how well we do something, it will feel like we did it in vain, not really accomplishing anything.

I Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” The only way to make sure that your life and efforts are not useless is to be steadfast in trust, immovable in faith and truth and love, and abounding in doing all God leads you to do. Faith, truth, and love will unfailingly accomplish good when paired with following God’s power. Left to our own devices we really do not achieve lasting benefits. But with humility and dependence upon the Lord our efforts will achieve everlasting benefits.

Sometimes we get the feeling that God doesn’t care about us. Oh, we know intellectually that He cares about the world in general, but we don’t think that He cares about us individually. He seems distant when we struggle. Our prayers seem to be unanswered. We think that we and our problems are too small for a Sovereign God to know, understand and do something about.

Mark 1:40-41 says, “And a leper came to him imploring him, and kneeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.'” In these verses, one desperate man, a leper, came to Jesus. He believed that Jesus could heal him, if only Jesus cared about him. Jesus was moved by compassion and healed the man. Jesus knows each of us thoroughly and understands our hurts and pains. He wants to heal all of our broken places, pains, sadness, and hurts. We need to simply and humbly ask Him to heal us, believing that He cares about each of us and is able to heal our brokenness.

Some people do good things for others so that they will receive attention and be praised. Some people do good things because it makes them feel good. Others do good out of compulsion, feeling like they have to do it.

Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” It is easy to be a light and do good works when things are going well. But when things are not going well for us, it is hard to do good works and shine for Jesus. It requires that we trust Him to make things better for us while giving us strength to do good for others. Doing good works also requires that our hearts are right with God, remaining steadfast in our love for Him and full of compassion for others.

A little more than a week and a half ago the small city of Perry, Florida was devastated by Hurricane Idalia. Many people suffered significant property damage and electricity is just now being restored to many homes and businesses. Talking to several of these victims I learned that the storm added to the suffering of every life. Some had recently lost loved ones, were previously injured, lost jobs, fell into broken relationships, or suffered substantial financial loss. Storms move in regardless of your current situation and multiply your troubles. Thankfully, many relief organizations, government agencies and volunteers have come to assist those who need help.

James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Love and faith move us into action to help others when we see their distress or even just hear about it. If we just read or hear the news without doing what we can to help, our faith is lifeless and love is missing from our hearts. Everyone can do something of value. We can sacrifice our time and effort to go help, donate to organizations who provide real assistance, pray for the victims, or serve in local organizations that provide help. Let God touch your heart and move you to action when you hear of real needs.

When a seed is planted into the ground, it is small and unimpressive. But the smallest seed produces a plant or tree that is beautiful and fruitful. The outer shell must die for the beauty and fruit to be produced.

II Corinthians 4:16 says, “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” We understand that the human body decays over time. But praise God that He constantly renews our hearts, minds, and spirit. In so doing He produces in us something of beauty and fruitful. Let’s not be so concerned with the outer shell of our bodies, but rather focus on becoming the beautiful and fruitful person God wants us to be.