Reluctant Retiree

Have you ever faced a problem that you thought was significant and took all your attention, only to find out later that the problem was no big deal. I sure have. I can make the biggest deal out of the smallest issue.

II Corinthians 4:17-18 says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. “

The Israelites were taken captive by the Babylonians and Jerusalem was destroyed. Some 70 years later Nehemiah is serving the king when he hears that Jerusalem is still in ruins. He is led by God to rebuild the wall. The first thing that Nehemiah does is pray for God’s favor and for God to give him favor with the king. God answers both prayers affirmatively and Nehemiah is able to rebuild the wall.

Nehemiah 2:4-5 says, “So I prayed to the God of heaven.  And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” Things will go wrong in our lives and we will do things that are wrong from time to time. When something goes wrong we must ask for God’s help to rebuild and make things right. He is the Master of rebuilding relationships, families, careers, and lives.

We hate it when people spread lies about us, and rightfully so. But what about the lies we hear from inside our own heads and hearts. The lies about our lack of value, just because we didn’t do something right. The internal falsehoods about our bleak future because we failed at something. We all hear these internal accusations and they discourage us.

II Corinthians 10:5 says, “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Evil will try to discourage, accuse, frustrate, and get you off track with wrong thoughts. Don’t believe them, but rather destroy them with the truth of who you are according to God’s Word.

When I was a kid I was always outside playing sports with the neighborhood kids. Every day we would choose sides. Besides the tension of hoping I would get picked, there was the stress of wanting to be selected for the best team. I didn’t just want to play, I wanted to win.

Matthew 25:31-32 says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Some day soon we will see Jesus sitting on His glorious throne. Those of us who have trusted in Jesus for salvation will inherit the kingdom of God. But those who never trusted in Jesus for salvation will receive eternal suffering. We all get to choose which team we will be on. Choose the winning team by trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Salvation, redemption and eternal life depend upon your choice.

We have all known employees who tend to slack off when the boss is not watching. They survive by only doing the bare minimum, but seem to be able to impress the supervisor. Our job is made more difficult by this type of worker and the company suffers.

In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the story of three employees. Two are faithful in their work although their responsibilities differ. One does nothing of profit to the employer. The faithful Two are rewarded and the unfaithful worker is punished. Matthew 25:11 recounts part of the story; “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'”

No service before the Lord is too small. Our faithfulness to God is tested in all of our service before Him and we will be rewarded based upon our faithfulness. I long to hear Jesus say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”