Once while Jesus was teaching, someone in the crowd said, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” (Luke 12:13) Jesus responded by saying He wasn’t there to be a judge over our desires between one another. Then Jesus said to others around that they should all be aware of having a spirit of covetousness, of wanting more things. Life does not consist of the abundance of what we have, Jesus said. How many of us need this advice? So many of us live as if our lives depend on getting every penny we are due from others, even if it’s the last penny they have. Afterall, it’s rightfully ours, and it belongs in our own abundance. We demand it. But should we?
Scripture says that Jesus will ultimately judge our lives and not our abundance. Roman’s 2:5-6 says, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart, you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of righteous judgment of God, who will give to each one according to his deeds.” We must understand that the hard work we do to get what is rightfully ours is at the same time self-centered work that God pays us very little for. If we want what is rightfully due to us from man, God will be obliged to give us what is rightfully His to give us for the work of selflessness we do for Him.
Look at the work you do with your life as it relates to others. If you want to know the extent of the wages you will be due from God, answer these questions:
- Do I do what man’s law permits me to do, or do I do what the goodness of God will reward? You will add or withdraw from your account with God by the way you respond.
- Do I do what is right for me to do, or do I do what is good in sight of God? You will add or withdraw from your account with God by the way you respond.
- Do I forgive others, or do I punish others for needing my forgiveness? Yes, you will add or withdraw from your account with God by the way you respond.
- Do I treasure what I have, or do I give what God will treasure? Once again you are adding or withdrawing from your account with God by the way you respond.
- Do others make me to have a soft heart towards them, or do they make me harden my heart because of them? You account with God is going to be smaller or larger by the way you respond.
Let me encourage you to live your life in such a way that your earthly account is rich with the things that are of value to the Lord. It is then that both your account here on earth and your eternal account with God will be at their fullest. When you lay your eyes on yourself, you are taking your eyes off the work that matters most to God. Learn to forgive people the things they owe you, learn to pour into people the things they need from you, and learn to store up things that are of value to man and to God. In these ways you will be certain that when payday comes, you will receive better good for the little good you do, you will receive greater forgiveness for the little forgiveness you give, you will receive more patience for the little patience you gave, and you will receive perfect Love for the little love that you loved. If you want to get all that you are due, make certain you are sowing things that that God will give back to you. Live a Delivered Life. Love you.
Live Delivered 