As we go about “Taking Care of Business” from “9 to 5” making “Money” while “Working for the Weekend,” is there not a danger that we neglect the culture of our hearts?
From 19th century American Christian writer, JR Miller, “Water the Roots!”:
“One Sabbath morning Wilberforce called upon Clarkson, and found him sitting among his papers, busily engaged upon his great emancipation from slavery schemes. He said to him, very earnestly, "Oh, Clarkson! do you ever think about your soul?" Clarkson replied, "Wilberforce, I have time to think about nothing now but these poor negroes."
And is there not danger that many who are absorbed in schemes of benevolence, may forget to look after their own souls? Is there not the same danger in the life of every Christian pastor and Christian worker? Is not the tendency of these days, even in the church, toward the cultivation of a working religion — oftentimes to the neglect of deep heart piety?
I have not one word to say against Christian activity. No one can do too much. But efficient activity can spring only from deep heart religion.”
At work, we find we that we tend to be pressured to focus on the “timely” completion of our tasks which can potentially prevent us from both, recognizing and seizing the opportunities that present themselves, if only we had consciously remembered and embraced our God-given purposes for working, beyond what our employers deliberately and painstakingly worded into concise and memorable mission & vision statements.
At work, if we find that we don’t have time for God, then we must realize that we don’t have time for everything that truly matters most. After all:
- In whose strength do you do your work?
- For whose glory are you working?
Or do we err by simply assuming that the God who has named each and every star (Psalms 147:4), is knowledgeable about the death of every sparrow (Matthew 10:29), and has each of the very hairs on our heads numbered (Luke 12:7), wouldn’t really care or think about such minuscule and unimportant items as these, that even we ourselves, tend to typically take for granted?
- Do we proactively involve God with the mundane ordinary everyday items that we know that we can handle for ourselves?
J.C. Ryle, in his work "The Gospel of Luke" 1858 teaches us:
“The first caution that we learn from the parable of the sower--is to beware of the devil when we hear the Word. Our Lord tells us that the hearts of some hearers are like "the wayside." The seed of the Gospel is plucked away from them by the devil almost as soon as it is sown. It does not sink down into their consciences. It does not make the least impression on their minds.”
“That malicious devil is unwearied in his efforts to do us harm. He is ever watching for our halting--and seeking occasion to destroy our souls. But nowhere perhaps is the devil so active, as in a congregation of Gospel-hearers! Nowhere does he labor so hard to stop the progress of that which is good--and to prevent men and women being saved.”
“Let us take heed that we are not wayside hearers.”
“That malicious devil is unwearied in his efforts to do us harm. He is ever watching for our halting--and seeking occasion to destroy our souls. But nowhere perhaps is the devil so active, as in a congregation of Gospel-hearers! Nowhere does he labor so hard to stop the progress of that which is good--and to prevent men and women being saved.”
“Let us take heed that we are not wayside hearers.”
Dag Hammarskjöld, a Swedish diplomat and author, called “the greatest statesman of our century,” by U.S. President John F. Kennedy spoke well when he said:
“You cannot play with the animal in you without becoming wholly animal, play with falsehood without forfeiting your right to truth, play with cruelty without losing your sensitivity of mind. He who wants to keep his garden tidy does not reserve a plot for weeds.”
You can't kill the demons with which you enjoy playing!! And whatever else you happen to do...stay alert and don't blink, for fear of missing out on The Lord's best for you (2Kings 2:9-12)!!
What are your thoughts? Let's discuss. Thank you for your comments!!
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