Articles
Am I Doing My Best?
Am I Doing My Best?
Greg King
With knowledge comes responsibility! God expects us to do our best in living for Him. God does not expect the impossible of us and neither does He expect us to do what we incapable of (Matt. 25). He does expect us to do the best that we can. In James 1:22 we find, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” As Christians we should be striving for excellence. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going." In the New Testament we find, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” Colossians 3:23. The text refers immediately to our work of a physical nature, but it also reflects upon our spiritual labor as well. God’s law applies in every place. We do as we are asked out of fear and reverence for the Lord. We are good workers who obey with a sincere heart because we understand that in doing so we are serving the Lord. Work as if you are working for God.
Paul continually urged Christians to reach a higher level of quality. “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord” Romans 12:11. To be fervent is literally to be hot or to boil. It indicates action which causes one to stretch or strain. If we are not stretching and straining in our service to God, then we are not trying hard enough! If we only choose the easy and convenient, then we fall far short. Be zealous, not lazy with God. Don’t be lazy with what you ought to be doing for the Lord. This is a powerful reminder. Do not slowdown in your service to God. Keep boiling with fervor for him. Jesus’ warning to the church at Laodicea was to not be lukewarm. Do not grow weary doing good. Don’t let the flame die down. How easy it is for the zeal that we begin with for the Lord can disintegrate into pew sitting and slothfulness.
Paul writes in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul pursued the prize promised by God intently. What about you?
