HE DOES NOT HAVE MUCH TO WORK WITH
We tend to beat ourselves up over our weaknesses, when, in fact, all God has to work with is sinners. The fact that I fail is not nearly as big a problem as if I do not try. The Bible says little about my being something spectacular, yet it says much about my faithfulness.
I do not have to be a great father, but I do need to be there and to give the job my best effort and to do so in prayer and intercession to God for mercy. I do not have to be a miraculous husband who provides fancy cars and amazing vacations, but I do need to be faithful, keep my vows, work at whatever job God gives me, and come home and love the family God gave me.
I am certainly not a great soul winner, but for over forty years, I have witnessed to people at stores, in parking lots, at doors, in lines at amusement parks, and in seats next to me on planes. I do not have to be great, I just need to be faithful.
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
It is required that I be found faithful!
Look at the disciples: they were proud, they argued among themselves, and they disagreed.
Luke 22:24 "And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."
vs. 25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors."
vs. 26 "But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
At one point, Peter tried to stop Jesus from going to the cross.
Mark 8:32 "And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him."
vs. 33 "But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan:"
Saul murdered Christians before he was saved. Paul and Barnabas got into an argument and quit traveling together.
Acts 15:39 "And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;"
The church at Corinth had division and moral impropriety. The book of Acts tells us that the church in Jerusalem had a problem with neglecting widows.
Acts 6:1"And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.The church is just made up of sinners."
In the book of Micah, we are shown what GREAT Christianity is — it is nothing spectacular, but just doing the little things right.
Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
These are things we are commanded to do: do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. God wants us to do our best. Each one of us is to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. God does not say we have to be the best at anything, or spectacular, or supernatural, or overachievers. We might be overweight or anorexic, short or tall, bald or with a full head of hair, but what God wants is for us to be faithful.
God does not have much to work with; honestly, He does not need much.
God does not use my goodness, he uses my faithfulness. The goodness comes from God. The power comes from God. The miraculous works come from God. As for me, I just need to be there when I am supposed to be there. If I were a Sunday school teacher, I would be at my class on time every week. If I were a bus worker, I would be on my bus route on Saturday visiting the children and looking for new riders and be on the bus on Sunday investing time and attention in these children. God will build the bus route if I will be faithful.
As a Christian, I can read my Bible; if I cannot read, I can listen to it with an electronic device. I can pray; I can take the time to stop everything and talk to God — anyone can do that. If we do our part, God will do that which we cannot do.
I have seen amazing people raise very un-amazing children. I have seen very common people with financial burdens and health trouble bring up wonderful children. I have seen people from broken homes rebuild their lives and become great servants of God. We have had bus riders from difficult homes become wonderful church members, and some have gone into the ministry. God uses a faithful parent, not a spectacular one.
Faithfulness is the key!
Faithfulness to church
Let me clarify an amazing thought: When a baby has a runny nose, the entire family does not need to stay home to help wipe it.
Does dad stay home from work when mom is sick?
Does mom stay home from work when dad is home sick?
Does dad stay home from work when dad is sick? Not often.
Yet folks will miss church for any little reason. We have allowed society to tell us that work matters but church does not. We have allowed the world to teach us that attending church is an option, and that work and money are not optional but a mandate.
Unfaithfulness to church says that you feel that church simply does not matter much— by doing this, we teach our children that God does not matter much either.
Faithful to the daily things makes all the difference. Be home when you are supposed to be. BE at church or work when you are supposed to be. Be with your children or spouse when you are supposed to be. Be with God when you are supposed to be. Faithfulness is not difficult, but it is hard; for it demands self-control to be FAITHFUL.
Faithfulness matters!
Pastor