In the kingdom of God, people and actions are judged based upon their relativity to the person and their circumstances, not based upon our arbitrary comparisons to others. We'll be judged, not based on what we did, so much as what we did with the resources, intellect, and gifts we were given.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I once heard a preacher who said “Lord, you’re the reason that I get out of bed so early in the morning!” It was convicting to me, because I thought back to the only reasons that I usually get out of bed in the mornings, and it either has something to do with money, or it has to do with my own pleasure.

I thought about this, and wondered why; then suddenly it became very apparent to me. This was about faith, or more precicely, my distinct lack of faith.

“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.”Hebrews 11:6

As a worker, I am promised a paycheck, only if I get to work on time, work a specified number of hours, and perform a certain way. This encourages me to get up in the morning, whether I want to or not, because otherwise, I won't get paid.

Likewise, if there is something exciting happening the next day, I have no issues getting up in the morning, because I have something to look forward to.

This leads me to the next conclusion, which is, I want instant gratification. Both these things have instantly gratifying results, and so I react to them. The Bible promises that God rewards those who seek him, but this reward comes much, much later, and the reward may only be apparent after death. This is hard for our time-bound, human brains to grasp. Why should I labor for something that I won't even experience in this life?

The answer comes clearly when looked at through the eyes of faith. When we truly believe that the things which are seen are temporal, and the things which we cannot see are eternal, we will have a much different perspective.

'Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And [the LORD] said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And [Moses] said to him, "If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?" ' — Exodus 33:13-16

Is this the defining factor in our lives? We are separate, distict, and completely different from every other person on this earth, because the LORD God of Hosts goes with us?

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.” 1Timothy 4:7-10

There is this myth which floats around Christian circles, that Christianity is exclusively faith-based. There is no such thing as works, and anyone who does "Good Works" is just a pharisaical fool.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what goodb is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” James 2:14-26

I'm not sure where folks missed the memo, but the issue is salvation is "not of works, lest anyone should boast." The rest of our Christian life is all about works. We are called to do good to others, to pray, to draw nigh to God; the list is almost endless. No, none of these things actually earns our salvation. No amount of effort could ever atone for our disparity and sinfulness before God. Jesus' blood alone can save us from our sins. But to somehow think that because God has made a way of escape for us, and that we've been freed from the curse of sin, we can sit back and rest, is just as damnable a heresy as it is to think that by our good works we could earn God's forgiveness.

We have to toil and strive. If we truly love God, and recognize his gift to us, we will do no less than spend our very last breath for his service, and to do his will. When we find in our heart laziness, coldness, and apathy, there you can find a heart that has forgotten what God's sacrifice truly was, or a heart that was never truly awakened by the Spirit of the Living God.

If I steal from the glory of God, that’s worse to the believer than going to hell, because the purpose for my existence has been defeated when I sin and rob God of His glory. Richard Owen Roberts

KJV

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

ASV

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;”

Are we living worthy of the Gospel of Christ? Can people see a difference in us? If not, then why?

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

In a completely different tone than the “I wills” in Isaiah 14, God is promising here that no matter what happens in the world around you; stand still, know without a shadow of a doubt that HE alone is God, and that HE WILL (no doubts, no questions, no exceptions) be exalted among the nations, peoples, and heathen God-haters. God's name will be lifted up, extolled, and exalted by every creature. Amen, and amen!

There is no room for doubt in this verse. So quiet your heart before him this day, and worship The Great I AM. Not just in word; but rather worship with your words, actions, life, and tongue.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33

What does it mean to practically “Seek first the kingdom of God.” I think it can mean different things specifically to different people, but the priciple remains the same. Seek God, His Word, His kingdom, and His righteousness first, before planning ahead on our newest enterprise.

For some, it may mean staying at a lesser position, forgoing a promotion, and trusting God to provide for them. For others, it may mean quitting their job altogether, and trusting God completely for food and raiment. Each scenario will be different, but we must be sensitive to God's leading. Herein lies the secret.

If we don't seek Him first, we're not likely to hear His voice leading us in His desired direction.

God always provides for His children. He has promised it, and history attests to the verity of the promise. Just how he will provide for us will be different for each individual. For George Müller, God asked him to completely rely on supernatural aid. Whether or not we are called to that is irrelevant. We should be in the place that God wants us. I knew of one brother, who was called to leave full-time missionary work in an un-evangelized culture, to come and encourage saints back in the USA. It was a great struggle for him to leave the mission field, and come back to a "carnal" job, but he knew it was what God was asking of him. Because he was sensetive to God's leading, God was able to greatly use Him in the presentation of the true gospel in America.

Obedience is what God is looking for in His children. God is not limited in power, or desperately in need of Christian workers because of any inability or lack on his part. He is looking for obedient children, through whom he can get glory. If our sole purpose in life is to glorify God, then why not be sensitive to his voice and obedient to his calling?

In the sixth chapter of John, he tells us how Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of eager followers. Jesus, of course, saw their heart, and knew why they were so eager to grab shipping and follow Him across the lake. Looking into their greedy souls, he cut them to the quick and said:

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27

Echoing down through the ages, he is also speaking directly to us. Those of us who are so quick to say that we are just “providing for our families,” while we fritter away the entirety of our waking energies on stockpiling more mammon. The ones who would rather spend time and effort building our earthly kingdoms, than seeking Christ.

In a culture where we are pushed from both the young and old alike to get, attain, and amass more and more wealth, contentment is not rewarded, recognized, or uplifted. It's good to be reminded time and time again that we are not part of this world. According to Paul, in our economy:

“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”
As soon as Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah the son of Oded, he took courage and put away the detestable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim, and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the Lord.

God never forgets our efforts. We see here that even kings get discouraged when they don't see tangible results from their righteous choices; but God, in his mercy, sometimes gives us a prophet's encouragement to keep on going.

“But you, take Courage!”

Asa's response is also important to note as well. After hearing the encouragement, he took courage, and began doing even more for God's kingdom. It is up to us, to take that encouragement, and continue doing God's work.

Dear Christian, let us be strong, take courage, and continue fighting the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:12)

Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.
Proverbs 4:1-15 ESV

It is very apparent that king David had a profound impact on Solomon's life. We see Solomon here, fondly reflecting on the precepts and knowledge that his father had drilled into his young mind, and entreating his readers to listen, heed, and cherish the wise instructions of his father.

As a young man, David had indoctrinated Solomon to seek after one thing in life. “Son, if there is one thing in life that you should seek to obtain, it is wisdom. Whatever you do, seek knowledge and insight with everything that is within you.” Now let's fast-forward several decades in Solomon's life, and we are in the middle of the night at Gibeon:

“...the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give thee.’”

Only careful, intentional training prepares a person for a moment like this. I can well imagine that David's counsel, having been lovingly, and repeatedly instilled in Solomon's young mind, was the first, and only, thing that echoed and re-echoed through his mind:

“Son, if there is one thing in life that you should seek to obtain, it is wisdom!”

I don't think there was a moment's hesitation in his response to the Lord. He knew from a child what his goal was in life, and this was simply the one chance that he had in his life to fulfill that goal. He jumped for it, and God was well pleased with his choice. God was also well pleased with the wise influence of Solomon's father, which guided him in his choice.

We, as fathers, have a holy responsibility to impart this kind of purpose into our children. Do your children KNOW why they exist? Have you prepared them for something so grand as God himself coming down and asking what they desire in life? If you haven't, now is the time to start.

Your children will rise up, and call you blessed. (Proverbs 31:28)