Running the race #30 Daily rated labourer(10feb09)

Dear…

'Holding forth the Word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.'

Philippians 2:16

As I was driving this morning, in between atoning to the wife via sms for my less than ideal plant watering skills, resulting in my messing up her hard work the day before in cleaning the patio, my father came to my mind, or rather, the occupation of my dear father. One regular annual exercise in lower primary school, at least the one I came from, was to fill up a one piece bio-data which included father's occupation. My birth certificate indicated labourer as the vocation of my father, and much as I might think, know or believe or hope otherwise, that was the designation my dad was most comfortable with.

'For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, O God, strengthen Thou my hands.'

Nehemiah 6:9

Today, like my dad, I am also a daily rated worker. In the corporate world, if you have no certainty of a fixed salary, not much corporate benefits, guess that will qualify me as daily rated worker. Guess the difference between my dad and myself was that he is smart,both IQ and EQ wise, but never completed his education as the difficult years of postwar Singapore entailed the need for most sons to help bring the bread home early in their lives. I like to believe I am a shade better than gullible, for I did obtain a degree, but beyond that, I am still a daily rated worker, with no certainty as to where the next dollar will come from, but it matters not, the grace of God is indeed suffice for the day.

'For this My son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.'
Luke 15:24

Justifiable material rewards for one's efforts used to be the basis for me taking on life's burdens. But thankfully, God has moved me from self to learn to strive to be more selfless, much as the imperfect me often struggles to be like Him. Ever since coming to the faith, the Lord has not just lifted the veil in my heart, but He has shown me that while the desire to believe and follow must be a free willed response from us, our Lord will not just be there with us, but He will carry us forth, if we let Him. It is not about co-laboring with the Lord, but rather, letting Him work through us, on His strength and sovereignty and never on ours.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure'
Philippians 2:13

The harvest is great,but the workers are few. The usual corporate line is that it is lonely at the top, but mind, how rewarding it has been financially though, what with the till recently astronomical payouts and perks.

But as a servant leader, upon which all who seek to follow our Lord Jesus Christ are, it can also seem to be not just lonely but unrewarding financially, out there in the field, for what am I doing trying to save unwilling souls, when the time could be better used to mine the material rewards of the world?

'..The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field. Which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds fo the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.'

Matthew 13:31-32

With God it has never been lonely, for His presence is more than suffice. And God knows our limitations and He has more than provided, including plenty of like-minded fellow journeymen where friendship transcends the usual human benchmarks and are instead grounded upon the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And what about the rewards? One can never put a price to the joy of witnessing people the Lord has placed in our lives, walking into His arms nor can one ever value the joy and peace that only God can give us. And not forgetting the wonderful prescience of God in our lives in both the "big" and "little" matters of our lives.

What will not one give in exchange to be that little mustard seed that God will use mightily.

'And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard thereof, that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes, for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God..'

Nehemiah 6:16

For many, life's achievements is about material success, power, prestige, a showcase perfect family and if possible, if not a masoleum, then at least an iron cast bronze bust for posterity. Reality is there is no posterity for men's achievements, ask the Pharoah(or rather the tomb robbers), or Saddam Hussein or anyone empire builders in between.

We are the temple upon which the Spirit of God resides and God is the builder and refiner of all of us, and we are blessed to have His Spirit upon and in us. So what is our role?

To be that willing 'slave' not to sin, but to our Sovereign God, Who will use us mightily to not just build up ourselves in His presence, but to be used by Him on a daily basis(till He brings us home) to be a co-labourer with the many people He will place in our lives.

'We have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.'

2 Peter 1:19-21

I am willing, Lord to do as you lead, on a daily basis. But without certainty, the imperfect man in me find it difficult to let go totally. Letting go and letting God on our own strength is impossible but thankfully, the Lord has given us the means through Him. Do reflect upon the Lord's guidance in Philippians 4:4-12 below.

'Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you..'

Philippians 4:4-12

In the secular world, the daily rated workers often milled around a specific location waiting for the foremen to offer the few available jobs for the day. This is a scene that will now be increasingly repeated in many parts of the world, as the economic recession bites. And what about the salaried worker. The job might be there, but only on a day by day basis, as furrows of worry reflects the uncertainty of an uncertain economic climate.

'What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from the body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.'
Romans 7:24

On the spiritual level, as desirous followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, we start the day knowing His grace is suffice for the day, and as in Philippians 4:4-12, we start with thankfulness for all circumstances, and solidify our dependance on the Rock our God, by always going to Him with our needs. And with that certainty that only God can imbue in us, we move on in our daily lives to strive to honour Him in all that we do, to be a living testimony of His grace. This is our daily living.

"Take control of My words today. May they tell of Your great love; And may the story of Your grace. Turn some hearts to You above.'

(Daily Bread 4 Feb 2009)

From experience, a good farmer would best lay his seeds to create the best possible conditions for growth, and nurture it to the best of his finite abilities, but he has no control over the vagaries of the weather nor market economics for his produce. God gave us all the wisdom to use the gifts and resources He blessed us with to align our work and our lives in His will. But unlike the weather, God is faithful and He will honour His promises to bless those who draws near to Him. Question is, will we honour Him by aligning our will, every moment of our lives to His will, instead of to the world?

Daily living in God's presence is a joy, daily living away from His presence is worse than drudgery.

What about tomorrow? Tomorrow will not take care of itself but God will take care of us, if not in this difficult world if He keeps us here for another day, then in bringing us back earlier to His Kingdom and there will be no longer any difficult day to ponder upon.

'But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it, which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.'

Matthew 13:23

'Whereas ye know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that…..Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.'

James 5:14-17

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(4Feb09)

"Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law……There is one lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy, who art thou that judgest another?'

James 4:11-12

Note
This journey has been penned a few days back. But I somewhat struggled with sending it out for something wasn't right. The Lord placed in my heart this morning that there was nothing wrong with the script but with my heart. Guess in such times, one can unwittingly move from edifying to judging. And on that count, I was guilty. But God also forgives and affirms, and as I read His Word this morning, no coincidence that James 4:11-12 was staring me in the face, what the Lord has just put in my heart a few minutes earlier.

God is ever so visible in the lives of us who seek Him. "Show me God" is the next journey I have been led to ponder upon. I have no idea how it will pan out but I do believe God will speak to many shakened lives, who are still questioning His very existence and Sovereignty, only in the way He can, much as all of us who know Him find it so difficult to express and convince others of our own daily experience with the ever present God. Thankfully, we only water, but it is God Who provides the increase.