Fruitfulness - Part 3
8th September 2012
I'm getting very excited about the idea that our whole lives can glorify Jesus. Recently I read two books within a few days of each other. Both books highlighted the same verse and, both times, it struck very profoundly. It's:
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
We can live all of our lives - not just Sunday mornings, or fellowship group, or the monthly prayer meeting - all of our lives - for the glory of God. We can even eat in a way that glorifies God: we can give thanks for the food on the table. We can eat healthy food. We can eat the right amount. We can share our food with others, showing hospitality. We can share godly conversion at the table, rather than eating alone or just watching the TV, or talking inappropriately.
And the same principle applies to everything we do through the day. I've said before that when a Christian goes shopping at Sainsbury's, he should be the nicest person the checkout girl's seen all day.
And we can take time to pray and to meditate on God's word. Some may say that it's easy for me - I'm a pastor. I'm paid to pray and read the Bible and talk to people about Jesus. They're right; it is - that's why they pay me. But it's just as easy for anybody who's retired, isn't it? Retired people too can pray, and read the Bible, and talk to people about Jesus. If you love God enough to want to be fruitful for Him, that's how you'll spend the extra time that retirement gives you.
What about people who work? Those who spend 8 hours a day earning a living can glorify God through the day:
- We can glorify God at work by working hard. Ephesians 6:5-8 says Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And if that's right for slaves, it's certainly right for employees.
- We can glorify God by doing what we do excellently. If you make shoes, make the best shoes you can. If you're a nurse, be the most caring nurse on the ward. If you're a teacher, be the best informed, most patient, best communicator you can be.
- We can glorify God at work by behaving as a Christian should, treating others with kindness and respect, putting no stumbling block in the way of others.
- We can glorify God my making friends, who we may later be able to share the gospel with.
- We can glorify God by making money so that we can give it away to help the poor and to further the work of the gospel.
- And we can glorify God by praying through the day - probably mostly silently and unobtrusively - giving thanks to God for the job we have, the money we make and the opportunities we get to share Jesus with our colleagues and customers, thinking about the Bible passage we read that morning and letting it shape who we are and how we think.
Paul wrote:
Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family
of believers.
If we continue to live in contact with Jesus, dedicating our work to Jesus and living godly lives, we will glorify Him, and we will reap a harvest. We will be fruitful in His service. Our lives will make a difference. There is no greater joy.