Start Now

People have a tendency to procrastinate when they know they don’t have to get a job done until a certain date, and had God told us when Christ will return, people would tend to wait until then to serve him.  Instead, he warned us that he would come unexpectedly to show who is really serving him.   There are certain things Paul lists that should characterize a Christian’s life.  Now is the time to start doing these things. 

I Thessalonians 5:12-13 starts out with our relationship to Christian leaders.  “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.”  In I Timothy 3 and Titus 1, Paul gives specific instructions for choosing church leaders.  They need to demonstrate those qualities before they are given the position.   We need to know how they live their lives to see the Holy Spirit’s working in them.  Hebrews 13:7 commands, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”   We should follow our leaders, but only to the degree they demonstrate a spiritual lifestyle. 

God will hold religious leaders accountable for what they have taught and how they have led.  As Christians we have a responsibility to work with them, not to be constantly challenging their authority or rebelling against them.   Hebrews 13:17 commands, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”   If they are not spiritually qualified we should find a different leader.  If they are, we need to cooperate with them.   There shouldn’t be conflict in the church.   As I Corinthians 3:3 tells us, conflict is a clear indication of an unspiritual state.  “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

Not everyone in the church has the same level of spiritual maturity.  I Thessalonians 5:14-15 teaches us to deal with them appropriately.   “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”  Some have never learned to follow the rules God has given, and they need to be warned that what they are doing is wrong.  Others can’t seem to grasp God’s promises and live in fear.   They need comforting and encouragement.  Still others are weak and find it easy to turn away.  They need guidance and encouragement.   We need to learn to be patient with them, constantly trying to teach them to grow and be faithful.  We need to be careful to always treat everyone properly, and not take out our frustrations on them.  Quite simply, we need to demonstrate godly love for them. 

One of the things that kept getting Israel into trouble in the wilderness was their constant complaining.  They hated having to move camp every day.   They wanted something different to eat.  They didn’t like Moses always telling them what God wanted.   They were never really happy about anything for very long.  Unfortunately, many Christians have the same attitude.  Numbers 11:1 tells us,  “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.”    One part of the fruit of the Spirit is an attitude of joy, of enjoying life.  I Thessalonians 5:16 tells us, “Rejoice evermore.”  After all, we have eternal life and the problems in this world are only temporary.   If we gripe about what he has already given us, why should he bother to give us more?  We’ll probably just gripe about it too.   Learn to enjoy and be content with what God has given.

Our happiness is based on our attitude rather than what we have.  As a result two people in identical situations can have totally different experiences, with one miserable and the other bubbling with happiness.    I Timothy 6:6-8 advises, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”   Don’t wait until everything is just the way you want it to start enjoying things.  If you do, you may miss out completely.