Tuesday; December 24

For some reason, I am one of those last minute shoppers.  I know I could go out and buy gifts anytime during the year, but there is something special to me about spending during the holiday season.  I have been known to wait until Christmas Eve to make my selections.  After reading the preceding confession I don’t know if it is procrastination rather than making the most of the season.  Either way, even though I tend to wait until the last minute, I usually accomplish what I set out to do.  

We live in a time when planning and preparation are virtues, but we must keep in mind that the name of the game is accomplishing the goal even if we push it to the last minute.  Interestingly, this isn’t just true in holiday shopping, it can be just as important in other aspects of our lives.  Jesus told a parable about some day laborers that had been contracted for a particular wage.  Some of them worked all day for the pay, while others worked a significantly shorter period of time but received the same pay.  In the context of the story some of the workers complained they didn’t get more for working longer, but Jesus quotes the landowner, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?  So the last shall be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:16-16).   I believe the moral of the story is that no matter how long or how little we are faithful to the Lord, we will be rewarded if we remain faithful to the end.  The key is to finish our lives in a relationship with Him. 

Are you unsure if you have enough time left to be worthy of God’s salvation?  Folks, we can be certain that whether we enter a relationship with Him early in life or just live the last little bit of it with Him, He is happy to reward us!  Are you in a spiritual relationship with the Lord?  If not, as long as there is life there is hope.  Don’t wait too long, but don’t give up just because you don’t feel you can do enough in the time you have left.  Anyone and everyone who finishes in a relationship with Him will be rewarded. 

Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke...
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements...
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app...
Read more