Workaholic for Christ

“Workaholic” is a bad word in the church. This is because we are often so consumed with our work that we neglect God and family. Work becomes god. This is no good, of course.

However, we must strive for balance (as usual). Significant parts of our culture have now replaced the god of work with the god of entertainment and leisure. I have written here about the warning from Prov 12:11: Avoid Worthless Pursuits.           

We see a very high value placed on work in the Bible. Just look at the Proverbs. Paul also consistently discussed work in his letters. In 2 Thess 3:6-15, Paul warned the believers to stay away from brothers who are idle. He then reminded them of his example:

“We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you” (2 Thess 3:7-8).

Paul sounds like a workaholic to me. But here is the important part: He was not leaving out God and ministry to people. In fact, he spoke the same way in reference to his ministry. “For three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears” (Acts 20:31). Paul was a workaholic for Christ.

Do you work hard to provide for yourself and others?
Do you work hard in serving the Lord? What is your ministry?
Do you have too much focus on entertainment and leisure?

You might be wondering: I’m already worn out! How can I do more?

Here are two ideas for later discussion:

1)    A healthy life includes rest and renewal. Are you resting? Is your non-work time renewing or depleting your energy?

2)    We do not work with our own strength for the Lord!

“For this (proclaiming Christ) I toil, struggling with ALL HIS ENERGY that he powerfully works within me” Col 1:28.

The Secret to Powerful Prayer [Podcast #2]

Sometimes prayer seems mysterious. When will God answer our prayers? What do we make of his promises to answer prayer (John 14:13-14; 15:7-11)? How can we learn to pray his will? If it is his will, why do we have to pray it?

Episode 2 of the Truth to Freedom Podcast is a recording of my teaching at Highland Christian Fellowship on Eph 6:19-20; Col 4:3-4. In these verses, Paul gives his prayer request to the Ephesians, a prayer for communicating the gospel. Not only do we learn what to pray, but we have the opportunity to dig into these challenging questions about prayer.

“1. If we ask him, God will provide opportunities to communicate the gospel (Col 4:3).

2. If we ask him, God will help us to communicate the gospel with boldness (Eph 6:19-20).

3. If we ask him, God will help us to know what to say when we communicate the gospel (Eph 6:19; Col 4:4).”

Are You Right with God?

What to Do:

  • Get alone and uninterrupted.
  • Determine to get right with God.
  • Draw near to him in faith and humility (Heb 10:19-22; James 4:7-9).
  • Ask God to show you how to get right with him.
  • Write down every sin he brings to your mind.
  • Ask him again and wait.
  • Write down every sin he brings to your mind.
  • Do it again.
  • Go through your list and confess, repent, and ask for cleansing by the blood of Christ for each sin individually.
  • Ask God in faith to deliver you from bondage and take back any territory in your life you have given to the enemy.
  • Mark out each item, unless it involves another person.
  • If it involves another person, determine to ask for forgiveness.
  • As you ask each person for forgiveness, then mark it off (even if they don’t forgive you).
  • Walk on in truth, light, joy, freedom, and full of the Spirit!
  • Take time to confess your sins and get right EVERY DAY.
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Questions to Consider:

  • Have you been closer to the Lord than you are now? When? Why?
  • How close to God do you want to be? Will you?
  • Are all parts of your life surrendered to Jesus?
  • What sins do you need to confess?
  • Do you have anger or bitterness? Who do you need to forgive?
  • What actions, motives, attitudes, and thoughts are not pleasing to the Lord?
  • Are you in bondage to sin? Are you controlled by fear, lies, negative thoughts, food, sexual immorality?
  • What does God want you to do that you are not doing?
  • Have you sinned against your spouse?
  • Will you repent? How?
  • Do you have accountability? Discipleship?
  • Do you have accountability and mentorship for your marriage?

How to Train Your Mind for Constant Prayer [Podcast #1]

When you don't have to focus on what you are doing (like reading this post), to what does your mind wander the most? If we observe this over a day, or even a week, we can learn something about ourselves: what is really important to us.

That is why it is so disturbing to realize how often my mind does NOT wander back to God!

In Eph 6:8 Paul encourages us to pray at all times in the Spirit. This does not mean that I am constantly asking God for something. It means that I am maintaining an attitude of prayer and sensitivity to the Spirit throughout the day.

This podcast is a recording of my teaching from Eph 6:18, "Living a Life of Prayer." It is the first ever episode in my new podcast, Truth to Freedom!

Saying Hard Things to People You Love

“I just want her to be happy.” This was what one father said when my friend asked if he could marry his daughter. Our culture believes that loving others means making them happy.

Is being happy really what it’s all about? If I were to always do what my children thought would make them happy, would that be good for them? We cannot trust “happiness” as the standard for what is best or right. That is why we sometimes have to say hard things to people we love. Telling someone the truth is often necessary for his or her good. And that is love.

So far, here are the 9 Steps for Conflict resolution: 1) Give Space. 2) Check yourself. 3) Let Go of Anger. 4) Love. 5) Pray. 6) Talk and 7) Discern the Issue. 

By going through these steps, you may discover that many of your problems are not legitimate issues. However, if we make it to this point, then it is necessary to take step 8.

8.     Speak the truth 

Jesus has given us the responsibility of going to our brother in the Lord and confronting him for his sin (Matt 18:15). This is for their good, so they can repent and avoid the harm that comes from sin (James 1:15). How we handle this is important. Paul explains that we are to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15) and “restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Gal 6:1).

There is much more to discuss here. What if they won’t listen? What about the other steps in Matt 18? How long should this process take? For now the point is to accept the responsibility and have the courage to take this important step to lovingly and gently speak the truth. 

9.     Give space

Now we are back to the first step. Once you have spoken truth to them, give them time to process it. Unless you sense they are ready to immediately repent, you might want to end the conversation with this question, “Will you please pray about and consider what I have said?” 

How long does it take to go through all these steps?

Of course, there is no set amount of time these steps will require. You must walk through this depending on the Lord for wisdom and leadership. You should be willing for it to take much longer than you want it to. At the same time, do not assume that it must take a long time since there are so many steps. Many of these steps are basic issues of Christian maturity. It is possible that you have incorporated these behaviors into your everyday living and that you are able to process a conflict almost immediately. 

Questions for feedback: Which steps do you find most difficult? Which do you think are most important? Do you have any questions?