Great is the distance between work for self and work for the Kingdom, although both happen in the same place. The aim of the archer is to hit the target, but why? That he may win the prize one day, but in another so he may eat, or in another, so his family may eat. Great may be the skill of this archer, but he who is his neighbor may be greater than he. The target is important. The skill must be there, with arrow sharp and straight, but the reason the bow is drawn is what is remembered as trivial or heroic. Who sets this lasting priority in man? Why does he work so hard at the hunt? Is it for self or for the God who gives him strength to draw the bow? Your work is the same – strength given, skill developed, but for what end do you toil? The remembered is not the toil, nor the peaks climbed for selfish ambition, but the feats in service to others who have needs which you have been formed to meet. The trophy loses its luster, but the hand that toils to serve, to build, to make others great, that is the hand that serves Me, and the shimmer from that trophy forever shines My light in eternity. Right where you are – serve. Aim with skill and strength given, that eternity will remember.
I Thes 1:2-3 (ESV) – We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bottom Line: Before we found the Lord, it was all about us; we worked for what we wanted to attain. Comfort, security and prestige were high on the list of why we got up every morning. Now that we are His followers, our focus should be shifted to something higher. We can easily forget that in His eyes, our work is primarily to serve others – our employers, customers, families and foremost, His Kingdom. It’s a very big change, but one that pleases Him as we let His Word work in us.
