Don’t Slack Off
“The Lord said, “A trustworthy and thoughtful manager who understands the way of his master will be given a ministry of responsibility in his master’s house serving others exactly what they need at just the right time.” Lu 12:42TPT
Have you ever heard about sowing and reaping? The scripture basis for sowing and reaping comes out of Gal 6:7NLT “Don’t be misled— you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.”
My dad was a gardener. Each summer we grew enough crops, once preserved, they lasted us throughout the winter. After preparing the rows, we planted. Dad marked the rows, ‘beans,’ ‘corn,’ etc. As we hoed and weeded the garden, we looked for the plant in its row, taking extra care to not harm the plant roots. Point being— we didn’t expect to find corn where the beans were planted, etc.
Jesus was teaching the people the concept of being prepared for the return of the reigning Christ. From Lu 12:35-48 He basically said— Don’t slack off, in your first love, in your service to God, in reaching the lost and dying masses. For His analogy, Jesus used servants working for a powerful master. They were entrusted with this master’s wealth, serfs, peons, land, lords and all other properties. The day the master returned would be a day of reckoning in the books, finances and everything left in their care. In essence, the efforts they had sown into this period of time would reap their placement of authority in the coming kingdom.
Discontent seems to be a major factor in life today. Employers have figured out how to cut hours and avoid providing benefits. Sadly these benefits were customary to former employees. In exchange, the disgruntled employees cut efforts in attempts to even out their deficit, and the merry-go-round spins. Without understanding the sowing and reaping of their work-lives they reap the worst jobs, least pay. “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people,” Col 3:23NLT.
Do you want to own a home of your own? Where are you living now? Care for the place you’re in like this dwelling belongs to a king. You can sow your extra special care as the downpayment on the house, you’re asking God for.
Mom used to say, ‘God is such a sensible, practical God.’ True! He sets His word above all else. Practicality is found in stewarding your work on the job— you open the door to benefits, advancement, stability otherwise unattainable. It’s the principle of sowing and reaping from your actions. Lou, as a boss for many years, happily got rid of the men who were too lazy to work. He also bent over backwards to help the men who worked and were worthy.
When we were landlords, we extended grace over the tenants who wanted their own house. We looked at how they paid their rent and had cared for the house. Then, we offered to them the opportunity to buy the property on land contract, using 50% of the previous year’s rent as downpayment. For those tenants— they had sown and reaped.
Two sensible applications in life reveals God’s way works. May I ask: How are you stewarding what the Master gave you. What seeds are sown? Are you wanting to reap what you’ve sown? Is it time to change seeds? It’s your choice. You choose.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, We long to do those things which bring glory to You through our lives. Show us what seeds and where You want them sown to reap a harvest of glory for You, in Jesus’ name I pray.
by Debbie Veilleux Copyright 2017 You have my permission to reblog this devotional for others. Please keep my name with this devotional as author. Thank you.
