by Gary Henry, taken from Daily Family Bible Studies, #138
Daily Family Bible Studies – Year 1, Week 38 (wordpoints.com)
In everything that pertains to spiritual matters, we ought to give of our best to the Master. We may feel that we have little to offer in the work God wants us to do, we may feel that others could do things better than we, or we may feel that it would be better to wait until we have gained more experience. But, really and truly, these considerations are rarely enough to excuse us from helping out in the Lord’s work. We need to get involved and do our best at whatever is needed in that work. Whether great or small (as human beings judge things), our contribution to the work is valuable to the Lord Himself, and we owe it to our Master to give Him the very best effort of which we are personally capable.
The words of Paul in regard to the matter of giving financially to support the work of the church are also pertinent to anything else that is our responsibility: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:6–8 ESV). Whatever we need to be doing individually, God will see to it that we are sufficient to the task. When we shirk our work and complain about our lack of ability, we are showing how little faith we have in God’s help and how little we appreciate what He has already made us able to do. It is God who makes us adequate and sufficient (2 Cor. 3:5 ESV). He promises to supply what we need to serve Him, and we ought not to complain about the quality of His provision.
God never requires us to do the impossible. Whatever He commands us to do, He will help us to do. That is the main point that Paul made in Phil. 4:13 (ESV) when he said, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” In anything pertaining to the Lord’s work, the question is never what we can do, but what God is willing to do through us: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13 ESV). That should encourage us!
God deserves the highest and best effort we are able to give Him in every endeavor. This week, let’s aim to have Paul’s attitude: “As much as is in me, I am ready” (Rom. 1:15 NKJV).
Monday: Exodus 3:1–12 ESV
Key Idea: When we have a responsibility, God expects us to do the best that we can do.
Questions for Family Growth: What did Moses say when God told him to go to Egypt and deliver the people of Israel? Do you think Moses was being truly humble or just making excuses? What assurance did God give to him in v.12?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 16:5 ESV.
Tuesday: Exodus 4:10–17 ESV
Key Idea: God knows all about us and our abilities, and He will help us do His work.
Questions for Family Growth: Was God expecting Moses to do something that Moses could not possibly do? According to v.14, how did God react to Moses’ objections? What help did God provide to compensate for Moses’ weakness?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 16:6 ESV.
Wednesday: Mark 14:3–9 ESV
Key Idea: We show our love for God when we go ahead and do whatever we can do for Him.
Questions for Family Growth: Why did it take courage for this woman to do what she did? Is there any higher compliment Jesus could have paid than to say, “She has done what she could”? What should we do when we think our best effort in God’s work might not be good enough?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 16:7 ESV.
Thursday: Matthew 25:14–30 ESV
Key Idea: God does not accept excuses for doing nothing in His work.
Questions for Family Growth: Why did the “one talent” man fail to do as he should have done? Was his reasoning acceptable to the master? In our work today, what are some excuses we sometimes offer when we fail to use our abilities for God?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 16:8 ESV.
Friday: Mark 12:41–44 ESV
Key Idea: Even when we can’t do much in God’s work, it’s still important to do what we can.
Questions for Family Growth: How much did Jesus say this widow had put into the treasury, compared to others? What should that tell us about the “little” amounts of time, ability, etc. that we could use for God?
Wisdom for the Day: Proverbs 16:9 ESV.
Gary Henry — WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com