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Preachers
quit preaching because "they’ve had enough."
Church leaders resign because of church problems. Deacons stop
serving because of criticisms. Sunday school teachers give up
their classes because they are taken for granted and not shown
due appreciation. Members refuse to get involved in church
programs because their feelings have been hurt at some time or
another.
Should
I continue or should I move on to something else? Is it time
to leave or should I stay in the church where I now serve?
Very likely, someone reading this is going through his or her
own struggles and is presently contemplating "dropping
out" of some service to God because of the way they’ve
been treated. They may even think about moving on to something
else or to another church. It needs to be said here that
sometimes the decision to leave or not to leave is clear-cut
and there is little or no doubt as to what one needs to do.
Who can
understand the frustration of trying to serve God while being
"disrespected" by your peers — even those claiming
to be your brothers and sisters in Christ? How often do we let
the fear of men and situations overcome us? The actions of
others can bring discouragements and disappointments. This is
a difficult thing to deal with because often we don’t have
control over what other people do and say, but we do have
control over how we respond to the actions of other people.
In the
book of Job, Satan asked God: "Doth Job fear God for
nought?" (Job1:9). In response, God’s
confidence was that Job would serve Him even if all the
external reasons to do so were taken away.
What
about you? Will you serve God when you don’t get patted on
the back? Will you serve Him when you are opposed, criticized,
evil-spoken of, and disrespected? Will you serve Him when you’re
hurt by harsh words and actions? Will you serve Him when
people speak against you, even for your own good? Will you
serve God when no one is noticing?
Our
service to God shouldn’t be contingent on anything that
anyone says or does to us. How does it sound when we say that
we’ll serve God, but only when we’re treated with proper
respect and appreciation? We forget that it is not about us.
It is about the Lord. It is about yielding to the Holy Spirit’s
guidance in doing all that God will us to do while we are here
on earth, to be worthy of the kingdom of God. We have a duty
to the Lord. A duty that must be done with joy and without
complaint. "Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth
with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath
done for you" (1 Sam 12:24). When you do, God will
surely be as pleased with you as He was with His servant, Job.
Remember
that it does not matter who disagreed with you. It does not
matter what you gained or lost. It does not matter if those
who benefitted from your working behind the scene do not know
it is your effort. What matters is that you glorified God.
"What
then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in
truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice,
yea, and will rejoice" (Phil 1:18).
Take
heart! Your discouragement is evidence that God is in the
process of helping you grow to the next level. Do not be
angry. Do not be discouraged. Do not calculate. Do not worry
about time. Do not complain. Do not be proud. Do not insist on
your way. Do not be lazy. Do not commit sin. Do not give up.
The Lord’s work must be done. Even with our complaining and
rebellion, the Lord will make sure that His work gets done.
Even if he has to use a donkey to get us to listen and obey!
The Lord’s work does not wait for you. The time will come
when you cannot participate in the Lord’s work anymore, even
if you are willing and wanting. Happiness comes slowly, but
calamity comes suddenly and quicker than you think.
"For
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love,
which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb
6:10).
Encouragement
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