No Comparison

 

Have you ever looked to the right and left of you and wonder, “I work so hard, and they seem to get all the reward?”  Maybe this has crossed your mind at work, while speaking to neighbors or even at a family dinner.  There are many times in my life where I believed I may have worked harder at things, but never ‘reaped’ the benefits of that hard work.  During those reflective times I would compare my life to others, what I had and what I didn’t have.  I tried to rationalize why my life may have been so difficult and why their lives seemed easier and more fruitful.

No, I am not proud of those moments in my life.  God teaches so often throughout His Word that our works do not get us a place ‘in the front of the line’ at heaven or an easier life.  He makes it abundantly clear that we cannot earn our way to Him through our works.  These loving verses noted above shares with all of us that the only way we gain salvation is by faith in Jesus and the gift of His grace.  This gift of salvation, which we do not deserve, is not something we can earn.  We can’t work our way to heaven. 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work hard and that we shouldn’t behave as Jesus has asked us to.  It is a very clear reminder, though, that putting work in front of God will not secure our place in heaven.  For many, we can compare this to the Mary and Martha syndrome.  When Jesus visits the home of these two sisters, it is Mary who sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to Him speak while Martha scurries around the home, ensuring a nice dinner will be served, and becoming infuriated with the lack of help from her sister.  Jesus calls out Martha saying, “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

It is important for us to do our very best, whether we are serving at church, at work or at home.  Yet, it is also important to remember that this work will NOT get us a better seat in heaven, or more riches than we deserve.  Our eye should be on filling ourselves up with the riches of grace, mercy, salvation, and love that our Savior so freely gives to us.  All Jesus wants is for us to believe in Him, and that alone, clears our path to heaven.  My friends, do your best, but let us not compare ourselves to others, or judge others.  Join me when our thoughts take us there, to turn our eyes on Jesus, and smile saying, “Thank you God, for your give me all that I need, your gift of salvation.”

Jesus, help me to remember that my work doesn’t define me as a child of God, but my belief in you defines me as Your child.  Hold me close to you in times where my thoughts may wander and bring me back to your grace and mercy.  In your name I pray, Amen.

Roadblocks

 

Traffic!  Haven’t met a person yet who says, “Oh, I just LOVE traffic.”  As I was driving to work this past week, going along at my normal pace, I observed a sea of red lights in front of me.  Immediately, my thoughts race, “What’s causing all this traffic?”, “Am I going to make it to work on time?”, “What is my contingent if I’m going to be late for the meeting?”  Traffic was getting in the way of my morning – and I certainly wasn’t ‘loving’ that feeling! 

It made me think of how life has its own ‘traffic’.  There are many roadblocks that could stall us from where we want to go in life.  We could be travelling along life and a health situation could stop us in our tracks.   Maybe we are driving along an open highway with someone, and relationship issues come up.  There is also the road of employment that could stumble along a barrier that stops us from attaining career goals.  The road of life has certainly put up many roadblocks in my life, and I’m sure you can relate.

The roadblocks of life can be frustrating.  When life is moving along and suddenly there is traffic, it can be hard to see what is causing the situation, are we going to attain our goals, or the one I can be very good at, how am “I” going to fix this!  We are human.  Often, we need to find the root cause of the stumble in our life and then move in ‘our’ direction to ensure we achieve what we want.  Friends, it may be time to get off of our highway and get onto God’s highway!

Self reflection on this topic has led me to recognize that many times, when life offers me a stop on my highway, I don’t always turn to my Lord and Savior for help and understanding.  I work hard and try to determine all the answers to the above questions on my own.  The reality is that when I finally decide to go to God in prayer, He provides the clear map of why I shouldn’t be on my highway and why I should be on his!  Through HIS eyes, I can see where my life should be headed – and many times it is not how I was intending.  Often, the goals that I may have set for myself are not attained and certainly not in MY time.  Yet, the highway God has for me is so much better.  His goals in His time makes my life richer. 

Give it a try!  The next time you hit a roadblock in life, immediately turn off to the God Exit!   We may not always understand the cause of the roadblock, but the new highway can be so much more scenic and rewarding.  How could it not?  You have the best co-pilot – God!

Heavenly Father, when our lives hit roadblocks, help us to turn to you for help.  Please guide us on the highway you want us to take and provide a clear road to get there.  May we see our road as a gift from You and gladly take it, knowing that it will lead to our heavenly home.  In your guiding name we pray, Amen!

Labor Gift

 

Labor Day is recognized as a day to rest for the American workforce.  For many, this weekend marks the end of summer and beginning of fall.  Enjoying those last few carefree days before fall sets in, Labor Day finds many folks at local beaches or heating up the grill for a barbecue.  For many, they see it as the ‘last hurrah’.  For my husband and me, we have spent the last few days on a home improvement project.  Nothing says Labor Day weekend more than home improvement!!   

As we worked, I noticed how hard my husband was working, sweat pouring down, but not stopping him from his goal.  He was focused on finishing the job at hand.  I realized that he has that same focus on all things work related – whether it is at home or his occupation.  He is very dedicated to everything he takes on.  When I asked him why he needs to work so hard and why can’t we find someone to help, his response is always, “I will do it for as long as I can do it.”  I remember my father saying the same thing.  The approach seems to be if God will afford him the opportunity to work, he will.

The way we approach work can certainly be a reflection on how we approach life.  We can do this thing called life for as long as God gifts it to us.  Whatever we do for a career, it is a gift.  Whatever we can do at home, it is a gift.  For ALL things are gifts from God – including work!  Being able to work is truly a gift.  We may not always seem that way, especially after a very difficult day, but our approach can make the difference.  I keep a Bible verse in my day timer at work – for those days that are very difficult!  Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  By reflecting on that verse, I’m able to redirect my frustration, knowing that God gifted me this job and it is for Him that I work.

Our lives have become so busy with our ability to engage for work.  For many, work doesn’t end.  We are constantly checking emails, working through lunches, checking in during vacations, etc.  Labor Day reminds us that the gift of work also brings with it the gift of rest.  Remember, even God rested on the seventh day!  Which means we can all rest too!   Be grateful for the gift of work, whether the work is a job or a home improvement!!  Be grateful that work provides us to feed our families and pay the rent/mortgage.  Be grateful for what God has provided for you. 

Then, be grateful for the day of rest.  Relax and enjoy Labor Day, the Sabbath, and other days that are provided to you for rest.  Embrace the days of rest and know that when you get up the next day for work, the job is truly a gift from our Lord!

Heavenly Father, thank you for our Labor Gift!  As we embrace each day for work, may we remember that it was given to us by you!  May we work hard but help us also to relax and rest from our labor, as you did!  Amen!