A Little Gold Is Better Than a Lot of Stubble

Have you ever been in a boat against such strong wind that after hours of rowing with all your might—you are even farther away from your desired destination than when you started? That is how many people live, especially the really religious ones.

I’ve met people who think they are smarter, holier, closer to God, and wiser than me. They act very humble, but soon point out their special revelation from God and why we should do what they say. Often it includes taking a collection so that we can fund and support their egotistical rantings about what they think God really wants us to do.

I am the first to admit that I have been in this “boat” and am thankful to the Father for His forgiveness. I spent years “running in circles” and expending lots of time and energy to get out my version of the gospel. Sadly, at times I would think that I was the great deliverer of truth to a lesser group of needy listeners. That is not God’s way, and it is not God’s love in action.

Jesus Christ is God’s way and showed his Father’s love to mankind. Jesus said the greatest helpers were those who become slaves for others—to the end of laying down our lives. How do we do this today? One of the biggest ways is to be like our big brother, Jesus Christ. He never judged another person by what he could see, smell, taste, touch, or hear alone. He kept his “spiritual” eyes open and his ears close to God’s lips.

One of the biggest keys to real service is to listen: first to God and then to others. Aren’t the two greatest commands to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves? That means we need to know what our Father thinks and what our neighbor needs. We get God’s thoughts from His Word, the Bible (thoughts He gave to men and women over centuries). One way to find out what our neighbor needs is to ask him.

I did home Bible fellowships for years and often it was the “Gene Show” with an entertaining teaching and answers to what I supposed the people wanted. At times I probably hit the mark. But now I try to be a little humbler and serve like my Lord Jesus Christ would have me to. How do I do that? By slowing down and listening. I keep it simple, just a “handful,” and enjoy the quietness that comes with doing the Father’s will.

Ecclesiastes 4:6:
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

Jesus Christ laid the foundation for eternal life. He told us what work we should do.

John 6:29:
Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

That is why God sent Jesus to us. God didn’t turn into a man. He sent His Son, not Himself. He arranged for a perfect person to be born and save all of mankind.

John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Getting that foundation is pretty simple. God puts it this way:

Romans 10:9,10:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Okay, now we have the foundation.  What can we build on it?

I Corinthians 3:11-15:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Gold, silver, and precious stones are pretty rare even today. That’s what makes them so valuable. They have beautiful and amazing qualities when they are pure—and fire “tries” (purifies) them. But wood, hay, and stubble burn up.

When we do works, let’s do the ones that count. Egotistical, prideful, and selfish deeds won’t last. But when we love others with God’s love—that’s good for eternity. In fact, our heavenly Father in His foreknowledge already knows the good that we will do. And remember that we get the foundation by grace!

Ephesians 2:8-10:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained [prepared in advance] that we should walk in them.

The next time you feel like running around and gathering lots of stubble, just slow down and see what gold and silver and precious stones you can find by walking with God’s love. He knows everything we are going to do, and has set things up so that we by our free will can do them the best!

Love you!

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