WORLDLY WINS OR SPIRITUAL SUCCESSES?

(Post by: Lilly Hobbs)

Madie and I are frequently asked what The Few Bible Study groups are like, and we both have a difficult time explaining it. Hear me when I say this, it’s absolutely not because of anything we’ve done, but because the Lord is so faithful to work when His people actually make time for Him (which I am incredibly grateful for).

Thursdays are one of my favorite days of the week now, which is when the older girls meet!

Imagine, if you will, teen girls gathering in-person and over zoom to worship, pray, and be challenged through the Word of God together. They don’t have to come; they want to come. They want more of Jesus than they have ever experienced before, and I truly believe God honors that.

Over the last couple of months, we have been discussing Tran-sgen-derism (intentional misspelling) and the specific roles and duties God has created for both males and females to live out. It has been a very powerful time, and we felt the Lord leading us to talk about it on the Podcast as well (A Few Minutes With The Few). So be sure to check out those recent episodes!

Anyway, I gave them a challenge last week, and I want to challenge you with it this week… Don’t just live a Godly life. Build it.

Too often I think we view Christianity as something “to do” instead of “to be”. It’s great to do what the Gospel says, I’m not discounting that. But think of how much better it would be if we were to actually build the Kingdom and follow Jesus’ example because that’s who we are?

You can live it out yourself, but I believe that we were made to build something that will outlive ourselves. We do so by living life with others and teaching them what it looks like.

Where are my fellow workaholics at?! Just being real here, it’s easy for me to get caught up in work that ultimately has no eternal value, and sometimes even keeps me from the work God has for me. A.W. Tozer once said, “The Spirit-taught Christian must look past the multiplicity of incidental things and find the few that really matter. And let it be repeated for our encouragement, they are few in number and surprisingly easy to identify.”

In other words, Jesus wants us to know and be sure of what work really matters. He knows that we are quick to forget the few spiritual essentials that are necessary, just to chase after unimportant things that do nothing more than distract us from Him. Get to work, don’t let it get to you.

I love to get to the root of things, and I’ve had to ask myself time and time again if I’m after worldly wins or spiritual successes? I hope this question will help you determine whether you are simply living or building. You have to be intentional about the work you commit yourself to.

Genesis 2:15 says, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

God created us to work. He gave us the authority to subdue the earth and have dominion over every living creature (Gen. 1:28). Which means that all of life, culture, and work is meant to reflect the beauty and glory of God. Whether you’re a student, pastor, construction worker, stay-at-home mom, elementary teacher, or an entrepreneur, work is rooted in God’s good creation and its sole purpose is to reflect His glory.

If we want to be spiritually successful, then we need to have a spiritual mindset instead of a worldly one. I don’t just want to look like Jesus, I want to think like Him too. Jesus came to build a Kingdom, one that He said the gates of Hell would not prevail against (Matthew 16:18).

Do not just work hard for the Lord, be sure to work well with Him.

“Seek, O believer, that every good thing you have may be an abiding thing. May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock.” (Charles Spurgeon)

SO WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

= Do you struggle to be intentional about the work you commit yourself to?

= What’s something you’re currently chasing after that has no eternal value?

= What are you going to do differently?