“Shine The Light For Others By Being A Light!”

“Shine The Light For Others By Being A Light!”
Paul was a great scholar and theologian of his time. Over the years great theologians and Bible scholars have been at pains as they struggle to understand his theology. Even so, in all his scholarship, Paul was not ashamed to do any kind of manual work that would help further the gospel. The Greeks of his time despised manual labour and considered it to be fit only for slaves.
While in Thessalonica Paul was not idle. He did not depend on the Christians for a living. He worked night and day, “labouring and toiling” so that he shouldn’t be a burden to them. He had the right to their help, but he wanted to be a model for the Christians to follow. He told them point-blank: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” He pleaded with them in the name of Christ to “keep away from every brother who is idle” (II Th.3:6-10).
The “tent-making” ministry is highly favoured; especially now that the economy is getting crazy as all energy is being directed towards weaponry. The COVID-19 pandemic scare has not helped matters. To crown it all, there is mounting dissilusionment and discontent caused by highhandedness in handling opposing views.
In the midst of all these, Christian leaders (Christian leaders refer to Church workers in leadership and Christians in secular leadership) at every level should of necessity be gentle to others and to be “like a caring mother for her children.” And dealing with each person “as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom of glory.”
The people should be witnesses that we are living holy, righteous and blameless” lives; no matter what we’ve been in the past.
My friend, are you a church worker, a civil servant, a public servant or an entrepreneur? The gospel alone is not going to put food on your table. Manual labour of any kind is a suplement to whatever you are doing in enhancing the gospel.
The most resounding sermon that remains with the hearers is when you become to them “like a mother caring for her children.” The message sinks when you deal with each one of your hearers “as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and urging them to live lives worthy of God…” who has called them to his kingdom and glory (I Th.2:6b-9).
Shine the light for others by being the light!
Weekend prayer: Lord Jesus Christ keep helping me to always be an encouraging and comforting father to the flock. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!