Coffee With The Lord

Our culture worships human accomplishments and performance… which leads to confidence… which, without Biblical and spiritual self-understanding leads to arrogance and pride… which ultimately leads to folly, and expresses itself as sin!

It just seems like there has been so much of this kind of thing lately… “I can…!  I will…!  I can assure you if I’m in charge, I’ll…!  I’ve accomplished this…!  I’ve achieved that!”  Gloating!  Trash talk!  Intimidation!  Self-acclaimed glory!

In light of all of that, how refreshing read Psalm 115 this morning!  It helped me keep things in perspective – God’s perspective!  Here’s some of what it says…

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory!  For the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness! … Oh Israel, trust in the Lord!  He is your help and shield.  O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!  He is your help and shield.  You who fear [reverence] the Lord, trust in the Lord!  He is your help and shield!  The Lord has remembered us; He will bless us!  He will bless those who fear [reverence] the Lord, both the small and the great! … We will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!  Praise the Lord! (From Psalm 115)

Reminded me of something the New Testament says… “Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.  For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’  So let no one boast in men! … What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (from 1 Corinthians 3:18-21; 4:7)

Wise people… godly people… give God the credit for anything they accomplish – they honor Him for any abilities they possess!  “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name we give glory! … Praise the Lord!”  That’s the way I want to live!

If you were to give an award for “Excellence in Marketplace Ministry” that honored someone who “exemplified excellence in the workplace or a profession in such a way that God was highly honored by their activity” who would you give the award to and why?  Think about it… weigh all the key factors – excellence, integrity, diligence, interpersonal skills, appropriate witness, church involvement, family life, etc. 

What prompted this inquiry?  Apostle Paul’s urging in Ephesians 6:5-9,.. A passage written to Christian “servants/slaves” and “masters” in the ancient world. 

Tragically, not all “professing Christian” employees or work supervisors/employers serve in such a way – with such diligence, excellence, and integrity – that God is honored!  The ones who do not only are a positive witness as Christians but win the approval of God! 

You want to know who I’d give such an award to?  I’d give it to my son-in-law, Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus, a devoted Christian, wonderful husband and “dad,” a man with a long history of service within the Church, and a skilled physician who serves others with devotion, diligence, and excellence.  Kudos to people like Tim!  They are a blessing to us all, a credit to the cause of Christ, and honored by God! 

“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man…  Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”  

One more time… Who would YOU give such an award to?  (Think about it!) … And if you’re an employee, a professional, or a supervisor/employer don’t you want to honor God by what you do? 

Sometimes when I’m having my time of “coffee with the Lord” – reading and reflecting on God’s Word – I come across a passage that I just feel nothing much more needs to be said!  Today that happened for me when I read this passage in the Psalms – Psalm 112.  After reading it I simply jotted these words in the margin of my Bible:  “Oh, I want to live in such a way that I reap these benefits and blessing!” 

Here it is (and after you read it for yourself I think you’ll see what I mean!)… 

“Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears [or reverences] the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries. He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.” (From Psalm 112:1-9 ESV)