We
Take Great Pains
On
Christmas Eve, Jarod's parents became
concerned because they could not
find their young son. Finally, they
checked his room and found the five-year-old
sitting quietly on his bed. His
mom said, "Jarod, we've been
looking everywhere for you. What
are you doing in your room?"
Jarod replied, "Nothing! With
you and God and Santa Claus watching
me all the time, I can't do anything!"1
It
seems that there's always someone
watching us...all of us. Today God
has led me to a verse in 2 Corinthians:
"For
we are taking pains to do what is
right, not only in the eyes of the
Lord but also in the eyes of men"
(v21).
Paul
was writing to the Corinthians to
remind them that they had promised
to take up an offering for the struggling
church in Jerusalem and to inform
them that Titus and another dear
brother would be arriving in Corinth
to assist with the collection. Paul
was concerned that it all be done
rightly and with integrity. Specifically,
he was concerned that the receiving
of the offering be done rightly.
Generally, he seemed to be sharing
a principle that was important in
his life for all situations: To
take pains to do what is right.
But he was concerned about this
on two levels.
On
the first level, he knew God was
watching all he did and wanted to
receive even the offering in a way
that pleased the Lord. Why is that
important? Obviously, it's important
to do what is right because God
is watching and, ultimately, we
answer to Him.
On
the second level, he knew that "the
eyes of men" would be
upon this whole process and he wanted
to do rightly by them as well, for
two reasons. First it was
important for reasons of accountability.
Paul knew he would be held accountable
by the church and, therefore, knew
it was important to do the right
thing. We as church members are
both accountable to each member
of the body of Christ and should
be in the habit of checking up on
each other and holding each other
accountable before the Lord. Asking
those absent why they were and letting
them know we missed them is a great
example of this principle.
Next,
Paul wanted to do right in the eyes
of men as an example to believers
and as a witness to unbelievers.
Is that a priority for us? Do we
care that others are watching? We
should! We will be held accountable
by God for the way we behave before
them.
So
what should we do with this passage?
We should take it before the Lord.
Ask God to open your eyes today
to "see" how He wants
to bring your life in line with
His Word based on this passage.
Are you mindful that others are
watching you? Are you mindful that
He's always watching? Do you live
in a way that reflects that you
know He's always watching?
Pray
that the Lord will give you courage
to live in such a way as to be an
example to insiders and a witness
to outsiders. In practical terms,
we are to seek His strength to do
what is right in His eyes and in
the eyes of others.
We
do this by seeking first His Kingdom
and by loving "our neighbors"
as ourselves. We look for opportunities
to be both an example and a witness.
And we depend solely on the Lord
to enable us to do so.
Won't
you go before Him now? He's waiting!
_______________________
1
Humor Connection, Date Unknown
