A Working Man

How many guys like to say, "I'm a workin' man"? I think we all do. It is a pride thing. We earn our keep. I love how the Bible encourages this, "Whatever you do, do it for the Lord." (1 Cor 10:13, Col 3:17) On a more sobering note, "whoever doesn't work doesn't eat."(2 Thess 3:10)

But we need to make sure we understand the difference between our physical work and "spiritual work." We need to understand that we cannot "earn our keep" with God.

"Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation." (Romans 4:4)

This concept is crucial: God owes us nothing.

"However, to the man who does not work (spiritually) but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited (to him) as righteousness." (Romans 4:5)

David, the psalmist, got it right when he wrote this around 1,000 years before Jesus, "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." (Psalm 32)

You see, God loves giving. Actually, He loves giving freely. He loves giving more than the most spiritual person and yet, He owes us nothing. Even people who live "perfectly" don't earn God's favor. (Rom 5:13). But God gives generously to all who ask. (James 1:5)

So what will you choose to follow? What you do or what God does?

"...He saved us, not because of righteous (good) things we had done, but because of His mercy."

(Titus 3:5)

I find it interesting what Jesus says about "hired hands" or men working for their keep.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. The the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep." (John 10:11-13)

People who are concerned about earning God's favor or blessings (or whatever else people try to earn) have a hard time caring about people. They do not understand how to give because they do not realize how much God loves them and how perfectly Jesus has forgiven them.

These people preach rules and laws. You have to "do" to get blessings, but the Bible is clear that God does not give out of obligation. Only when a realization of God grace comes into your life will you understand that God gives life into your dead bones.

Preach Grace.

(I like this font better than the font on my previous posts.)