Wednesday 15 March, 2017

6 Brothers and sisters, here is a command we give you. We give it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Keep away from every believer who doesn’t want to work and makes trouble. Keep away from any believer who doesn’t live up to the teaching you received from us. 7 You know how you should follow our example. We worked when we were with you. 8 We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. In fact, it was just the opposite. We worked night and day. We worked very hard so that we wouldn’t cause any expense to any of you. 9 We worked, even though we have the right to receive help from you. We did it in order to be a model for you to follow. 10 Even when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We said, “Anyone who won’t work shouldn’t be allowed to eat.” 11 We hear that some people among you don’t want to work and are making trouble. They aren’t really busy. Instead, they are bothering others. 12 We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. So we strongly command people like that to settle down. They have to earn the food they eat. 13 Brothers and sisters, don’t ever get tired of doing what is good.

The last verse in this passage really stood out to me – “…never tire in doing what is good”.

There are many reasons why we might be tempted to tire and give up on doing what is good. Sometimes we may wonder what the point is when we don’t seem to see any results. Or we may be tempted to give up because we don’t seem to get the recognition from people that we feel we deserve.

It’s good to remember that we offer our service to God for His glory and not for earthly rewards or praise from man.  We are part of God’s eternal plans and purposes. If we are being obedient to what we believe He has called us to do, then we are laying up eternal treasures that cannot be seen or measured with the human eye.

God help me to keep an eternal perspective when I am tempted to give up on doing what is good. Help me to seek obedience to Your word rather than the praise of man. Thank you for the privilege of partnering with You and serving You with my life.

Written by Shelley Witt