The Word For Today

The first thing God did when he created Adam was to put him to work. That's because work gives us a sense of purpose, meaning and dignity. 'God put the man in the garden...to...work it' (Genesis 2:15 NCV). So Adam was a gardener.

But whether you count cash in a bank, trade futures on the Stock Exchange, flip burgers in a beach-side stand, whip up pasta specials at a five-star restaurant, fell giant timber in the forest or split and deliver firewood, coach a team, pastor a congregation, publish best-selling books, deliver newspapers in the early morning hours, star in your own television show, farm a large acreage, mow and edge neighbourhood lawns, go out on the road as a salesperson for computers, drive a truck loaded with machinery, build homes, clean swimming pools, argue cases before a judge or settle family disputes as a counsellor, always do a good job. A wise man once said: 'Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.' The biblical character Daniel did that. And like cream, he rose to the top in Babylon. 'Daniel distinguished himself above the governors...because an excellent spirit was in him' (Daniel 6:3 NKJV).

There are no small jobs, only people who perceive them as small and become small in doing them. The Bible says: 'Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper' (Proverbs 13:4 NLT). So always do a good job.

The first thing God did when he created Adam was to put him to work. That's because work gives us a sense of purpose, meaning and dignity. 'God put the man in the garden...to...work it' (Genesis 2:15 NCV). So Adam was a gardener.

But whether you count cash in a bank, trade futures on the Stock Exchange, flip burgers in a beach-side stand, whip up pasta specials at a five-star restaurant, fell giant timber in the forest or split and deliver firewood, coach a team, pastor a congregation, publish best-selling books, deliver newspapers in the early morning hours, star in your own television show, farm a large acreage, mow and edge neighbourhood lawns, go out on the road as a salesperson for computers, drive a truck loaded with machinery, build homes, clean swimming pools, argue cases before a judge or settle family disputes as a counsellor, always do a good job. A wise man once said: 'Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.' The biblical character Daniel did that. And like cream, he rose to the top in Babylon. 'Daniel distinguished himself above the governors...because an excellent spirit was in him' (Daniel 6:3 NKJV).

There are no small jobs, only people who perceive them as small and become small in doing them. The Bible says: 'Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper' (Proverbs 13:4 NLT). So always do a good job.

Goliath towered over David. But David looked at Goliath through the eyes of his omnipotent God who conquers all, and said: 'You come to me using a sword and two spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken against him' (1 Samuel 17:45 NCV). Intimidation is one of Satan's favourite weapons. He will get you to think yourself into a state of fearfulness.

One day, cartoon character Charlie Brown was having lunch at school when he confided to his friend Linus that he didn't feel good enough to approach a certain young lady: 'I can't talk to that little red-haired girl because she's something and I'm nothing. If I were something and she were nothing, I could talk to her, or if she were something and I were something, then I could talk to her. Or if she were nothing and I were nothing, then I also could talk to her. But she's something and I'm nothing so I can't talk to her.' Linus responded: 'For a nothing, Charlie Brown, you're really something!' Charlie Brown had allowed the redhead's beauty to intimidate him and force him to the sidelines.

As his redeemed child, God thinks you're really something. David said, 'Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies' (Psalm 107:2 NLT). And because David's words lined up with God's word and his plan, Goliath was stopped. So whatever 'giant' you're facing today, stand up to him and announce, 'You are coming down in the name of the Lord!'

Goliath towered over David. But David looked at Goliath through the eyes of his omnipotent God who conquers all, and said: 'You come to me using a sword and two spears. But I come to you in the name of the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel! You have spoken against him' (1 Samuel 17:45 NCV). Intimidation is one of Satan's favourite weapons. He will get you to think yourself into a state of fearfulness.

One day, cartoon character Charlie Brown was having lunch at school when he confided to his friend Linus that he didn't feel good enough to approach a certain young lady: 'I can't talk to that little red-haired girl because she's something and I'm nothing. If I were something and she were nothing, I could talk to her, or if she were something and I were something, then I could talk to her. Or if she were nothing and I were nothing, then I also could talk to her. But she's something and I'm nothing so I can't talk to her.' Linus responded: 'For a nothing, Charlie Brown, you're really something!' Charlie Brown had allowed the redhead's beauty to intimidate him and force him to the sidelines.

As his redeemed child, God thinks you're really something. David said, 'Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies' (Psalm 107:2 NLT). And because David's words lined up with God's word and his plan, Goliath was stopped. So whatever 'giant' you're facing today, stand up to him and announce, 'You are coming down in the name of the Lord!'

Paul wrote: 'God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...Now he who supplies seed to the sower...will...increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion' (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11 NIV). Paul couldn't be more explicit. If we are faithful to give generously, when God wants to meet needs again in the future, he will remember us as capable partners and come back to us. If a restaurant gives good service, it results in repeat business. The same applies to good stewards. And if you sow generously, then God is able to give you more and more.

God takes care of faithful stewards. As long as you're in a giving partnership with him, he makes sure you get everything you need, exactly when you need it. That's his offer. True wealth is having everything you need when you need it. That should dispel all your fears about giving. Is fear holding back your generosity? Do you give leftovers because you're concerned about making ends meet?

Have you ever asked God to give you a plan for the stewardship of the money he has entrusted to you? At some point, as a Christian, you've just got to go for it and say, 'God, because I worry so much about money, I'm inviting you into my finances. I want to know that whether things are good or bad, you're involved.'

Paul wrote: 'God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work...Now he who supplies seed to the sower...will...increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion' (2 Corinthians 9:8, 10-11 NIV). Paul couldn't be more explicit. If we are faithful to give generously, when God wants to meet needs again in the future, he will remember us as capable partners and come back to us. If a restaurant gives good service, it results in repeat business. The same applies to good stewards. And if you sow generously, then God is able to give you more and more.

God takes care of faithful stewards. As long as you're in a giving partnership with him, he makes sure you get everything you need, exactly when you need it. That's his offer. True wealth is having everything you need when you need it. That should dispel all your fears about giving. Is fear holding back your generosity? Do you give leftovers because you're concerned about making ends meet?

Have you ever asked God to give you a plan for the stewardship of the money he has entrusted to you? At some point, as a Christian, you've just got to go for it and say, 'God, because I worry so much about money, I'm inviting you into my finances. I want to know that whether things are good or bad, you're involved.'