by Jeffrey Bush
God is more interested in building you than building a work through you. We sometimes become egotistical thinking of all the things we can do for God, but God was working before we were around and will continue long after we leave this earth. God is building His worker, not just His work. His workers will be put to rest, but His work will continue on.
On Friday I was driving up to a meeting in Illinois and listening to preaching on podcasts. The preacher said something that really caused me to think. It was something to the affect of, “Instead of concerning ourselves with what we’ve done for God, we should ask ourselves how much we’ve become like God?” Those were not his exact words, but that was my takeaway from something he said in passing. I paused the message and did a little reflecting. I think we’re all guilty of wanting to see what we can accomplish for God, but I believe God’s measuring stick is more on how we’ve become like Him instead of what we’ve done for Him. So allow me to give you just a few thoughts:
Emotionally
Proverbs 16:32 says the strongest man is the one who can rule (control) his spirit. Our emotions, our anger, bitterness and sadness doesn’t have to control us, we can control them. God teaches us to forgive as He has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13), to put away anger and wrath (Colossians 3:8), to avoid bitterness (Hebrews 12:15) and to not sorrow as those “which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Our emotions are like roller coasters, they jerk us around all over and give us a headache. The tricky emotions can begin running our lives, or we can submit them to the Lord and allow God to build us emotionally.
Spiritually
I was saved in junior high/high school and I have fond memories of being consumed with the Bible. I remember waking up early to read my Bible (I’m not a morning person, so Mindy probably doesn’t believe I used to do this lol). I remember taking walks in the woods with a deer hide in my backpack. As I read the Bible, it was like God was literally talking to me. I prayed like I believed and poured my heart out to God. I arrived to college and didn’t care what anyone thought because I truly believed I was sent by God. I truly felt in tune with God. But as years have flown by, I shamefully admit that my roles and responsibilities have smothered out that dedicated fellowship with God. I long to get back to that place. God is more interested in me getting close to Him than me doing something for Him. And interesting enough, as I grow close to Him, I’ll be more of a prepared and sanctified vessel for His use. He wants to build me spiritually, and He wants to build you as well.
Maritally
I once read in a book that the greatest test of our Christianity is seen in our home. It’s easy to smile at others in church or say something good from a pulpit or in a classroom. The truth of our walk with God is seen more in our private relationships than our public platforms. Marriage will test your love, joy, patience, long-suffering, kindness and meekness. This is not a sarcastic statement, this is true. We know we should be filled with the Spirit, and we want to be filled, but don’t forget that when we’re filled the result is having the fruit of the Spirit. It’s easy to say you are filled with the Spirit, but how is your patience, kindness and meekness? Your spouse is God’s child, meaning God loves him/her just as much as He loves you. God’s not going to choose your side over theirs… so get along. Grow together. Let God grow each of you. Be the servant at home. Let God use your spouse to strengthen your relationship with Him, and as a result your relationship with your spouse will be greater. No one said it will be easy, but following God’s way is always better. A better Christian equals a better spouse.
When I was a kid we used to sing a song that said, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and the stars, the sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be ‘cause He’s still working on me.” Dear friends, allow God to continue working on you and in you. We might grow older, have more kids, be in different life and ministry stages, but continue allowing God to work in and on you. He will not twist your arm, so yieldingly allow Him to continue working on you. Trials in life, ministry and marriage don’t have to destroy you, they can build you. Your emotions might go hectic, but God is building you. He’s still working on you. Don’t lose hope, don’t quit or jump ship for He is still building you!