Reluctant Retiree

Our son’s family bought a farm over a year ago. They have since added chickens, cows, and goats to their farm. Later, they planted several different kinds of fruit trees. Since I eat a lot of fruit daily, I am eagerly awaiting the first crop from each tree. Just by looking at the trees, I am unable to distinguish what type of fruit trees they are. I know some people can, but I can’t. I will have to wait until the fruit is visible before I will be able to distinguish each tree’s type.

Jesus described our character in terms of fruit trees. In Matthew 12:33 He said, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit.” You see, other people can tell what kind of person we are by the things we produce from our lives. If we leave a trail of discord, heartbreak, and unhappiness in the lives we touch, then our character is bad. If, however, we leave a legacy of joy, love and peace, we have proven to be honorable and righteous. It is impossible to have bad character and produce positive effects upon others.

But a good tree must be planted in good soil and nurtured with good nutrients. For people, this means we must have our nature transformed by the grace, love, and power of God. So we begin be trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and redemption. Then, daily we walk in His ways to build a godly character and produce righteous fruit. Only by drawing on God’s unlimited love and power can we expect to bear good fruit.

What motivates us to give our best efforts to a task? Is it the expectation of reward for a job well done? Is it the possibility of adverse effects upon us if we don’t deliver? Is it our respect, or lack thereof, for the person giving the assignment?

All of these may be valid motivations from time to time. But is there another motivation that can help us to consistently give our best efforts? I think that the key is understanding who is ultimately assigning us each task.

Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Every task, job, act of service, assignment, chore, duty, and responsibility is given to us by God through teachers, parents, bosses, spouses, friends, government official, and associates. We honor these God ordained people, and God Himself, by giving our best efforts and working with diligence and excellence.

So the next time you are struggling doing something that you really don’t want to do, remember who is ultimately giving you the assignment. Bring Him honor by doing your best. This will also give you joy and satisfaction.

I did not learn mechanical, carpentry, or repair skills growing up. My father did not have these abilities or knowledge, so he could not teach me and I didn’t have anyone else to go to. As a result my wife has always done a lot of the repairs around our house. She grew up with a father that insisted his children, including daughters, learn basic household and auto maintenance skills, along with a fair amount of woodworking abilities.

Fast forward to today. My wife and I volunteer with an organization that does disaster relief, Eight Days of Hope. We have assisted in the immediate aftermath of tornadoes, hurricanes and floods, by participating in the cleanup. But we have also come back later to help rebuild. As you can imagine, my limited abilities are somewhat of a drawback. However, we have always found something that we can do or learn to do quickly. We have painted, assembled cabinets, put together baseboards, and finished drywall.

I have discovered that there is never a lack of good things that we can do in serving other people and in serving God. Jesus put it this way, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” God has work for us to do. If we are indeed His children, we should take every opportunity to serve Him and others. By doing so, we can meet needs and demonstrate God’s love to a hurting world.

I enjoy watching track and field, ever since our daughter participated. The skills necessary to succeed are so varied, depending on the event. I especially like to watch the high jump and pole vault. I am always wondering how high they can go, while amazed at their skills. Eventually, the participants reach their limit, as the bar reaches a height beyond their abilities.

A lot of people believe that they are living lives good enough for heaven. They feel like the good things they have done far outweigh any bad things that they may have done. But how would you know? Does one act of kindness count for more good on the righteousness scale than a lie negates? How much good do I have to do to be accepted by God and gain access to heaven? Is there some way that I can evaluate my righteousness status so I can be sure that I get to heaven?

Unfortunately, these people are all on the wrong path. In Matthew 9:13 Jesus said, “Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” The religious elite of Jesus’ time thought they were righteous because they held to a strict set of rules. They thought that their good deeds earned their way into God’s favor and into heaven. Jesus contradicted their statements and beliefs. Jesus said that God wants us to have a broken and contrite spirit. He wants us to have faith that He saves us, not our works. By His grace in the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for our sins, God offers salvation to each of us. This is good news. We don’t have to wonder if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds. Heaven and salvation are freely given by God to those who trust in Jesus.

Who is the most important person you have ever talked with? Maybe you met a celebrity by chance and had a brief conversation. Perhaps you are involved with government or politics and met some influential leaders. I met some powerful business people in my career, but I probably did not make a meaningful impression on them.

We all have the opportunity to speak with the most powerful person in the universe. Of course, I am talking about God. In Jeremiah 29:12 God says, ” Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.” Almighty God invites you and me to call upon Him. He is available at all times for those who are humble in spirit. The God who created and sustains all things desires that we come to Him. He promises to hear us.