For the Lord

Rules for Christian Households

(NRSV)

23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,

I have gone through many different stages in my life concerning my household. Years ago I struggled with the idea that I deserved better from my employers. I struggled with work and happiness because I was living in the world and concerned about worldly things. We often times live out these cycles of life until we break out and discover that if we live for the Lord we can find happiness in life.

Paul tells us that we should work heartily, yet if we are unhappy in our progress in the world we often work with regret or discontentment.

We have this same reaction here at church. If things do not go you might think they should you can become discontent with church and the pastor’s progress. Ask yourself,”when I was discontented with my secular job and I did not do my job to the best of my abilities, was that my problem, or my employers?”

I discovered, after years of discontentment, that it was my attitude that needed to change. Paul says “that we should work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”,. You should consider this if you are discontent with your pastor or your church. Are you rebelling against the pastor or your church in an attempt to gain something? Who then are you hurting in the process? (NRSV)

24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. You see when I was discontented with my progress at work, and I lashed out and withheld my best, in rebuke, it was only hurting my life. It caused me to always be unhappy. Are you unhappy?

Eventually, we discover what our inheritance is and it is not always what we expect it to be. You see I always thought that what I wanted was recognition for a job well done. I would still like to get to the Father’s arms and hear well done good and faithful servant. But if I waver from serving the Lord as we can do from time to time, we put in jeopardy that inheritance.

You see, when I was unhappy and discontent with my job and my pay, I did not give my best, which was a personal choice. I chose to not give my best in rebellion against not being treated as the best. I thought this was only appropriate because if I was not going to be recognized as the best then why should I give the best.

The truth of the matter is that it only caused me to be unhappy, unhappy with my employer and unhappy with life. Ask yourself, what does my inheritance look like? You see, I thought my inheritance was the benefits of good pay and great benefits. Yet what we might discover when we withhold our best is severance.

(NRSV)

25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.

Paul had found contentment in all things, (NRSV)

11 Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

How could Paul find contentment when he was hungry or when he was in need? Through the strength of the Lord. If you withhold to punish consider who is being punished?