THE CHRISTIAN, HIS JOB AND HIS GOD

By

Rev. Tamunoibi. R.  Miller 

revtr.miller@yahoo.com; revrandymiller66@gmail.com

1. Introduction: I feel greatly honoured to be invited to share few thoughts with us in this leadership seminar. This seminar is an indication of the desire to create the consciousness of God’s children and to sharpen them to make them fit for the Kingdom business. The Church today cannot make the mistake of isolating herself and creating distinction from the secular affairs. This is because the Church is expected to impact the society positively for its transformation and this can only be done by reason of the men and women who demonstrates integrity and exhibit Christian character to add value to the Kingdom of God. I have slightly rephrased  the topic given to me to place me on a better pedestal to discuss the major theme. One undeniable truth is that we are saved to serve. However, it is sad to note that many Christians today have not really lived to God’s expectation in exercising the grace of God upon their lives, and fulfilling certain ministerial duties/ Christian services placed in their hands within and outside of the Church. Every mountain top experience by the child of God must be displayed at the valley where the actions are judged be either God driven or personal, self fish driven.

In our discussion, we shall consider who a Christian is, the need for work and the expected attitude of the Christian worker to his God.

• Who is a Christian: It may appear very funny to ask who a Christian is at such a time in our advanced period of information where this is discussed at almost every media every day and sermons preached every day as we attend worship services. But our very clear understanding will enhance the definite role we are to play even as workers. A Christian is one who has acknowledged that he/she is a sinner and in need of salvation but cannot help himself and invites Jesus Christ who is God’s offer of salvation to come into his/her life to help him/her. Such an individual accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour. (John 3:16; John 1:12). This is not just one who partake in all the activities of the Church and try to leave like a Christian. Your are either a Christian because you have forsaken your sins and received Jesus Christ or you are an unbeliever who is part of the congregation but not a member of the Church.

It is very solemn to realise that there are many people engaged in God’s work who do not know the Lord. They seek to serve Him but have no saving experience of His grace. They are like those described in 2 Timothy 3:5 and in Titus 1:16, like one of old who came to Jesus (John 3:1-16). The first requirement, if we are to serve the Lord, and if we are to be a channel through whom the Holy Spirit can work in bringing blessing to others, is that we should know the Lord for ourselves, know that we have been born again (John 3); that we are a child of God (1 John 3:1); and that we know what it is to be washed in the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7). One reason why the Church is powerless is because many who are working in the Church do not know the experience of Romans 1:16

Christian Leadership

• Brian O’Nail, also defined leadership as “influencing people to get things done to a standard and quality above their norm and doing it willingly”.
• George Barna added, “A Christian leader is someone who is called by God to lead: leads with and through Christ like character; and demonstrate the functional competences that permit effective leadership to take place”. The central task of leadership is influencing God’s people toward God’s purposes”. A leader works with people, is responsible for them, and is accountable to them. However, we are all ultimately responsible and accountable to God.

Christian Leadership has two directions. The first is towards God and the second is towards people. Towards God we know that leaders are supposed to glorify God (1 Corinthians10:31). They should set their minds on things above (1 Cor. 3:2). Their ambition should be pleasing to God (2 Cor.5:9). Toward the people, the leader’s second task is to be loving and nurturing (John 21:17), willing to lay down their lives for the brethren (1 John3:16-18) and shepherd the flock with eagerness (1 Peter5:2)

Christian Leadership also has two responsibilities. A balanced leader has both the people and task at hand in mind. Towards the people, he spends a percentage of his time with the people. They look for the interest of others- Phil.2:4, not living for ourselves Gal2:2, be on guard for the flock Acts20:28). Towards the task, the work of God is our priority (work while it is day-John 9:4, redeem the time Eph.5:16, time for everything Eccl.3).    

Implications of the Definitions: The definitions have exposed four aspects for consideration

• The Need for Work as a Christian: It is very relevant to note from the very beginning that our Christian work is a form of calling. Yes,  Christian service is part of Christian living. Some are called into full-time Christian work in certain special vocations such as the pastorate. Also, some Christians find themselves in circumstances which allow them to devote more of their time to Christian ministries than others can. However, the secular or public as well as the private work we engage in must be considered as a call to serve and honour the Lord. The first reading from the book of Genesis sets forth the fundamental principles of the nature of work. These principles suggested by the author are not so much focused on the work themselves but on the dignity of the human person.  So the point of departure is in appreciating work not from the nature of our work but who we are as persons in the eyes of God.  Indeed, what makes us great is our dignity as God’s creatures, created in His image and likeness.  “God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’.  God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”  Work does not qualify man but man qualifies work.. So all work is to contribute to the development of humanity and the potential of this earth. We are masters and therefore we are not only responsible to our fellowmen but to creation itself.
• When work is seen as the result of man’s power, it limits his capacity to do more.  What is worse, it is seen as self-serving, performed solely for himself and his benefits.  This explains why many of us are working only on the human level instead of allowing ourselves to be aided by grace, which is to allow God to elevate our human power to share in His divine power.  It is important that we move away from a secular notion of work promoted by greed and self-aggrandizement; seeing it only as a means to secure wealth, power and status. That is why in John’s gospel, Jesus saw His work as the work of His father and His food is to do His father’s will.  “My food is to do the will of the one sent me, and to complete his work.” (Jn 4:35) 

Remember these Nuggets:

1. God Owns Everything.. 

 Psalmist  24reads “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”.

In the beginning of Genesis, God creates everything and puts Adam in the Garden to work it and to take care of it. It is clear that man was created to work and that work is the stewardship of all of the creation that God has given him.

This is the fundamental principle of biblical stewardship. God owns everything, we are simply managers or administrators acting on his behalf.

Therefore, stewardship expresses our obedience regarding the administration of everything God has placed under our control, which is all encompassing. Stewardship is the commitment of one’s self and possessions to God’s service, recognizing that we do not have the right of control over our property or ourselves. 

Echoing Deuteronomy 8:17, we might say: “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But Deuteronomy 8:18 counsels us to think otherwise:

Remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. 

Although God gives us “all things richly to enjoy,” nothing is ours. Nothing really belongs to us. God owns everything; we’re responsible for how we treat it and what we do with it. While we complain about our rights here on earth, the Bible constantly asks, What about your responsibilities? Owners have rights; stewards have responsibilities.

2. We are  Accountable to the Owner.

A steward is one who manages the possessions of another. We are all stewards of the resources, abilities and opportunities that God has entrusted to our care, and one day each one of us will be called to give an account for how we have managed what the Master has given us.

This is the maxim taught by the Parable of the Talents. God has entrusted authority over the creation to us and we are not allowed to rule over it as we see fit. We are called to exercise our dominion under the watchful eye of the Creator managing his creation in accord with the principles he has established.

Like the servants in the Parable of the Talents, we will be called to give an account of how we have administered everything we have been given, including our time, money, abilities, information, wisdom, relationships, and authority.

We will all give account to the rightful owner as to how well we managed the things he has entrusted to us.

3. We shall be  Rewarded. 

In Colossians 3:23-24 Paul said:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The Bible shows us in the parables of the Kingdom that faithful stewards who do the master’s will with the master’s resources can expect to be rewarded incompletely in this life, but fully in the next.

We all should long to hear the master say what he exclaims in Matthew 25:21:

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!.

We need to be faithful stewards of all God has given us within the opportunities presented through his providence to glorify him, serve the common good and further his Kingdom.

• Expected Attitude of the Christian Worker to His God: Wherever we are privileged to work, God is expecting these basic things from us. These are;
• Commitment to God: This is an important concept because it cuts across all aspects of our lives, both sacred and secular.
• We must be committed in our place of work. We must avoid Neglect to our work, Lateness, Corrupt practices, deceit and selfishness, using the work time.
• Committed to the Truth always
• Committed to the Church: This must reflect in our attendance to Church activities and other programmes. e.g Bible Study, Prayer Meeting, Revivals, Night Vigils, Group meetings. Scripture encourages us not to neglect the Assembly of God’s people. We should use our time very well.
• Committed to  developing the right relationships. This will create the forum for us to share the Gospel with others. Use every opportunity to share God’s grace (e.g share the experience of Dr Anoforwoshe) 
• Committed in the Payment of your Tithe. God in the book of Malachi 3:6-6-12 encouraged us to pay our tithe and offerings

Discuss: – What % is the Tithe?. – Who do we pay tithe to?, – How do we Pay our tithe?  What are the Blessings?, What is the difference between offering and Tithe?.

• Committed in the use of our Time, Talents and Spiritual Gifts
• Character that Honours God: Secondly, we must live out what we profess.  We should consistently exemplify the Christian walk which comes from applying the Bible’s teachings in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul told the young minister, Titus, “in everything set them an example by doing what is good”  (Titus 2:7). In 1 Timothy 4:16, Paul exhorts his younger co-worker, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching….” In Acts 20:28, he told the Ephesian elders, “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock…”. Integrity counts as Christians. Godly church leaders must be careful to maintain a good conscience before God and others. Paul told Felix (Acts 24:16), “I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” The conscience is that inner sense of right and wrong that God has put in every human heart (Rom. 2:15). It is not infallible, in that it must be informed by God’s Word of truth. It can become seared or hardened (1 Tim. 4:2; Eph. 4:18-19). Even if your conscience is misinformed, it is always a sin to violate it (Rom. 14:14, 23; James 4:17). Thus Paul told Timothy (1 Tim. 1:5), “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
• Christ like Attitude of Humility  (Philippians 2: 1-8): An attitude of violence and anger should be avoided. A life that does not seek its own. Most times, as Christians we have always displayed our old selves when we are tempted. Who we are as Christians can only be revealed when we are tempted or tried.  
• Conclusion: The admonishment as I conclude is that as Christians, we should be Utterly dedicated to his work,   Accurate and clear in his teaching,   Upright in his character and conduct as well as be Courteous and gentle in his manner. May the grace of God be with us all.