Have you considered cutting back YOUR service to Almighty God ? Most Christians have been tempted to do so, at some point or another. Here are some common reasons with explanations why they will never stand up before the Judgment Seat of Christ.
CONSIDER THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR !
CONSIDER THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE LORD !
HAVE YOU BEEN CAPTURED BY ONE OF . . .
. . . THE TOP 10 REASONS . . .
From a message by Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams, on Sunday, April 9, 2000, at Solid Rock Bible Church, Ocklawaha, Florida.
1. COMPARING YOUR WORKLOAD TO THAT OF OTHERS.
It’s always a temptation to compare what you do with what others do. When we give into that temptation, we have made the other person our standard. If we are right with God, our standard is Jesus, Who set the example of fulfilling ALL that His Father set before Him to accomplish.
John 17:4 I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.
The disciples of our Lord were very careful never to examine themselves in light of what others did, but to finish their assignments from the Lord.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
And in Acts 21:7 And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.
The evil attitudes of people who want to see how little they can get by with should never been copied by true believers ! Matthew 24:12 warns about the consequences of this.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
2. SPENDING TOO MUCH NON-MINISTRY TIME LISTENING TO THE LOST.
Increase in deception in last days. You can’t afford to listen to it !
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. Don’t be deceived ! Look at the results !
A. TIME WITH UNSAVED RELATIVES
IN FELLOWSHIP.
Keep in mind that being a good Christian does not mean that you can‘t have anything to do with lost relatives. But, it DOES mean that you care enough about them to be an effective witness for the Lord whenever you are with them).
Sometimes traditional “Family Visits” are not beneficial to anyone if you are not able to express your care for the eternal destiny of your loved ones by telling them about Jesus).
B. WATCHING LOST PEOPLE ON TV.
Most of television has been conquered by the devil. Subtly, the devil brings words and attitudes from what we see into our lives. Guard against it !
C. LISTENING TO
THE MUSIC & MESSAGE
OF LOST PEOPLE.
Music has great power. It can create a romantic mood, calm one’s nerves, or even make us jittery. Do not under estimate the power of music to influence you. Consider what you are listening to. Avoid ungodly music.
D. SPENDING TOO MUCH
FRIENDSHIP TIME
WITH THE LOST AT WORK.
Soon, you begin copying their behavior, attitudes, talk, etc.
3. BELIEVING THAT YOU ARE DOING TOO MUCH.
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
— If giving your life in death to Christ is not too much, why are we tempted to think that anything less would be wrong ?
—Don’t be the kind of person who encourages this thinking. In this type of attack, the devil uses only people who have influence with us to suggest the thought, and then try to make it an issue in your thinking. Obviously, if someone you didn’t care about said you were doing too much for the Lord, it wouldn’t bother you. That’s why the devil uses people close to you to suggest this lie.
4. YOU DON’T EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF ACCOMPLISHMENT.
A. YOU DON’T SEE THE RESULTS YOU EXPECTED.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Expect reward of God !
B. YOU DON’T RECEIVE THE RECOGNITION YOU EXPECTED. We must not be like these people —
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Our joy should come in the approval of the Lord, knowing that His reward is all that really counts for eternity, anyway.
5. NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF YOUR WORK.
We must keep in mind that our eternal reward is future. At this point in life, we have only a small down-payment [Eph. 1:13-14] of what God will give us in the future if we remain faithful. It has long been a temptation of Godly people to say, “What good is it that I try to stay close to God, and keep myself pure in Him ?”
A. YOU ARE TEMPTED TO ASK WHAT BENEFIT IS IT TO BE PURE AND CLEAN —
Psalms 73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
B. GOD PROMISES A SURE REWARD. WE MUST NOT LOOK TOWARD MEN.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
6. YOU DON’T SEE THE ANSWERS TO PRAYER YOU EXPECTED.
A. YOU FEEL THAT GOD LET YOU DOWN. *Story about Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschev who spoke about the time when as a child when he believed there was a God. He asked God to provide more food for the family. It didn’t happen. So, he decided not to believe any more. Were you asking for what God said He wanted ? Or, did you ask what YOU wanted ?
B. YOU MAY THINK GOD SHOULD HAVE ANSWERED YOU WITH THE BLESSINGS YOU REQUESTED. IF HE DOESN’T, YOU ARE TEMPTED TO THINK, “WHAT GOOD IS MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM ?” THIS IDEA IS WHAT THE DEVIL WANTED JOB TO THINK, thus making Job’s love for God based only on what he could get from Him. Job 1 & 2.
7. YOU BECOME SO INVOLVED IN WORK YOU SHOULDN’T DO THAT YOU NEGLECT YOUR FAMILY. GOD ALWAYS GIVES YOU TIME TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE WANTS DONE. HIS WORK INCLUDES CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
If you find that you don’t have enough time to minister to the spiritual needs of your own family, you are not using your time correctly. Because of not committing the use of our time to Him, there are always consequences, such as…
A. PRESSURES FROM SPOUSE AND CHILDREN CRYING FOR ATTENTION.
B. TROUBLE RESULTING FROM BAD BEHAVIOR OF THOSE IN YOUR FAMILY, ESPECIALLY FROM THE CHILDREN.
8. AN INABILITY SINCE CHILDHOOD TO STAY WITH WHAT YOU START.
Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
There are many sincere Christians who do not realize until late in life that they have never turned over to God their sin of inconsistency and lack of persistence.
A. THIS REVEALS AN AREA NOT COMMITTED FULLY TO CHRIST.
B. THIS IS NOT JUST A SPIRITUAL MATTER, BUT A MATTER OF DEDICATION OF THE MIND AND HEART. Many will commit to do something in the emotions of the moment, but fail to carry through).[/one_third]
9. YOUR LOVE FOR OTHER THINGS GROWS INSTEAD OF IT BEING CONFESSED AS SIN.
A. YOU CAN ALWAYS JUSTIFY YOUR “WANTS.” “MY FAMILY NEEDED THE BOAT, NEEDED THE HOUSE, NEEDED THE CAR, NEEDED THE CLOTHING, ETC.” If these things come as “a close second” to your service to God, they could sneak into first place without you even realizing it.
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
10. YOU ARE NOT REALLY SAVED.
A. MANY TRY TO SERVE GOD, HOPING THAT SERVICE WILL EARN THEM A WAY INTO HEAVEN. Many who enter “the ministry” or become active in some churches do so because they want to do something for God, hoping that in exchange, God will grant them special benefits, such as eternal life. Salvation can never come by works, but by repenting of our sins, and receiving Jesus’ full pardon for our sins.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Only after being truly saved is the desire to work for the Lord real and profitable for God.
SOLID ROCK
BIBLE CHURCH
Located in Central Florida
Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams, Pastor
