Doing what you are told to do pays off
By: Dr. Jeff Fuller
We tell the teenager to take out
the trash; ask the husband to wash the van or mow the lawn; an employee is told
to get the report ready for the staff meeting by a certain time. Each of these, if completed will result in
some sort of return; if not then there may be a reprimand, a question for the
reason it was not completed, or any number of corrective acts for willingly
disobeying.
Growing up, there were certain
things expected of me. I was to clean my
room, take dirty clothes and place them in the laundry room, and pick up after
myself. Any deviation from this method
of doing as I was told could result in punishment. I might be denied certain privileges, sent to
my room to think it over, or if the situation demanded it, a swift spat or
corrective talk (depending on which parent took offense). In the ensuing years I did learn the valuable
lesson that if you do as you are told it pays off in the long run.
It is a lesson we are teaching our
little girl. We are attempting to
engrain in her the concept that when you do what you are asked to do, then it
pays off in rewards. The opposite is
true as well: you fail to do what is right, then you are going to reap the
rewards of the choices you make.
A few days ago she asked if we were
going to make a deposit in her savings account.
I take her allowance and set it aside, then we go to the bank
together. After informing her we would
do that very thing, she was calculating what was in her account, but I did not
have the heart to remind her that she would have had a great deal more, if she
had not had to endure punishment for disobeying, and her allowance being held
back on a few occasions this past year.
Yes, in the end, if you do right it
pays off. It might be that feel good
feeling of accomplishing something, or a thank you from the one in authority,
or a tangible reward, or a bonus, raise or promotion. Whatever it might be, the reward is sure to
come.
The Bible clearly teaches this as
the truth. We find the exhortation that
you reap what you sow in this life. (Galatians 5:7) If you sow good seed, the
Bible says that you will bear fruit-much fruit-even to the point of it being
pressed down, shaken together and running over. (Luke 6:38) Only if you make the right choice to do what
you are instructed to do in the Word of God.
Failing to follow the mandates of
the Word of God will result in a harvest which cannot and will not be pleasing
to the individual who has sown the rotten seeds of wrong choices. The harvest one reaps from this type of
planting will bring with it pain and sorrow, discontentment and dissatisfaction. When I examine the Word, I find commandments;
not suggestions. Some think they may be
able to overlook them, take them if it fits the situation, or shrug them off as
worthless and outdated. In the end they
find that life was meaningless and void, because they would not follow the
manual for life-God’s Holy, Inspired, Infallible Word.
Thank God for the Word of God that
sustains us and helps us in this life and leads us to life everlasting. Jesus said that we would be happy-blessed-if
we followed His teaching. (Matthew 5:1-12)
He told the disciples that life is found in giving up everything. (Luke
18:22) His instruction was that we
willingly die a spiritual death and follow Him in all things. (Luke 9:23)
Are you living the full, Spirit led
life that God intended for you to live?
Are you satisfied with the pay you are receiving in this life and in the
life to come? It is found in walking the
Christ-like life. It is found in prayer,
studying the Word of God, spending time with fellow believers, and giving
everything you have, are and dream to be to Him for His use in the kingdom
work. Christian friend, I challenge you
to step up to the plate and be obedient in all things and find that God will
reward you in the end.
Do you know Christ as Savior and
Lord of your life? The Bible says that
if you “confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) You confess with your mouth and believe in
your heart, because “with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10) This is why the old apostle Paul can say with
all confidence, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
(Romans 10:13) Friend, it is time for
you to admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, believe that Jesus is the
only way to find forgiveness for your sin, and confess Him as Savior. Jesus is the only way!
In closing, I remind you that Jesus
said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
[does] corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust [does] corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there
will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 KJV)
Be obedient, do what you are told
to do and you will see a payoff far greater than any could you could ever think
or dream possible!
Until next time…
(Dr. Jeff Fuller is pastor of the
Rockford Baptist Church in Rockford, Alabama.
You may reach him through the church office at 256-377-4900 or by email
at fuller0717@gmail.com.)
