Reluctant Retiree

As I walk around the neighborhood, I see many homeowners and gardeners cutting back bushes and trees. It is an odd process designed not just to provide a pleasant appearance of the bushes, but also for the health of the plant. Pruning makes it possible for the inner parts of plants to receive more light and to be more productive.

God uses a pruning process on us as well. Sometimes He must take something good away from us in order to give us something better. We may be doing good work in an area, only for God to take us from there to another place where our impact can be magnified. That is not to say that this pruning process will not hurt, because it will. It is difficult for us to let go of good things. But if we will, God has so many beautiful things to show us and to accomplish through us.

John 15:2 says, “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Far too often the criminal mind returns to his former way of life after his release from jail, thus misusing his freedom. After peace is restored, warring parties often return to the battlefield. Once the heart is calmed, the worrier often finds new sources of anxiety. Not long after we purchase the latest new thing, our hearts long for something more. We grow comfortable in our behaviors and attitudes, so much so that we return to these habits, even after they are temporarily satisfied.

Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Jesus sets the new believer free from his wrong ways of thinking and behaving. His redemption of our souls on the cross put to death these sinful thoughts and actions. We should not return to these old ways. Rather we should use our release from the bondage of selfishness and self-centeredness to serve others in love.

The believer has been given freedom. It is freedom to change from harmful and sinful ways. It is freedom to love unselfishly. It is freedom to be light in a world of darkness. It is freedom to encourage others to join in this freedom.

Stores, restaurants, credit card companies, and airlines are just a few of the companies offering reward programs. They seek your loyalty by offering special benefits. The offers include cash back, free meals, discounts and even free airline flights. If we like the company, reward programs keep us coming back. If we haven’t yet done business with the company, rewards may motivate us to give them a try.

When we work for a company or organization, we can be motivated by other rewards. We may work hard to create a better living situation for our family. We may also work hard because we enjoy the job and the feeling of satisfaction that it brings. Another reason that many people give their best efforts is for the praise and prestige that their good efforts bring to them.

All of these rewards, however, are temporary. They come and go with changes in the company, their rewards program and our own circumstances. There is a place that we can find eternal rewards. Colossians 3:23-24 says,”Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Christians receive an eternal reward, not because of the work that they do, but because of the grace already given to them in salvation. This grace and abounding love of God causes believers to respond with diligent service and obedience.

I believe that the eternal rewards of the eternal love of my Heavenly Father along with living forever in His presence are worthy of my service and submission to His mercy and grace.

Have you ever seen a person embarking a boat with one foot in the boat and the other on a dock when the boat starts to float away? That is an unstable and scary position to be in. The person doesn’t know whether to try to get on board the boat or reverse course and retreat back to the dock. Indecision causes a disastrous fall.

God tells us that faith and prayer are similar. James 1:6-8 says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

God does not necessarily honor the request of the person who has one foot firmly established in the foundation of faith and the other foot planted in doubt and self effort. Faith and doubt move in opposite directions, like the boat moving away from the dock. Faith and self effort also move in opposite directions. God will honor the request spoken by faith. He may not hear the request offered by someone who intends to make it happen themselves. This type of request is spoken from a dangerous and unstable position. Make your requests known to God, but do so from the firm foundation of faith in Him.