Jeremiah 48:10 “Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness,
Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
1Corintians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The apostle concludes the subject by giving them a general rule, sufficient to regulate every man’s conscience and practice – that whether they eat, or drink, or whatsoever they do, to do it all with an habitual aim to the glory of God; by considering his precepts, and the propriety, expediency, appearance, and tendency of their actions.
The work of the Lord is so important, pressing, sublime and awebegetting that a curse rests upon anyone who does it negligently. The God who wants and deserves the best cannot bear with sloth, delays, halfheartedness, or slipshod methods. When we think of the tremendous issues involved, we are not surprised.
Recognize Jesus as the ultimate King over your life. Think about it—are we giving Him our best, or are we holding back? Honoring Jesus as King means letting Him lead, prioritizing His plans over our own, and offering Him of our time, talents, and resources. It’s about saying, “You’re in charge, Lord,” and trusting Him to guide us every step of the way.
The God-given purpose of your life is not neutrality toward Jesus. It is the wholehearted pursuit of Jesus Christ, very God of very God, who is present in us by the Holy Spirit. To know him, to enjoy his friendship, to follow in his ways, to gather his harvest with him. There is no neutrality toward Jesus. Verse 23: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
During the latter part of 1968 a young Christian in Prague, Czechoslovakia witnessed to another young Czech named Jan Palach. There seemed to be a genuine interest on Jan’s part, and so the Christian promised to deliver a New Testament to him. He was filled with good intentions but he let weeks pass before he even obtained the New Testament. Then he kept delaying its actual delivery.
On January 16, 1969, Jan Palach stood in St. Wencelas Square, poured gasoline over his body and set himself afire. He never lived to see the New Testament that had been promised to him.
Good intentions are not enough. It has been said that the streets of hell are paved with good intentions. But they don’t get the work done. They must be translated into action. And here are a few ways to do it.
First, never refuse when the Lord directs you to do some act of service for Him. If He is Lord, then it is ours to obey without question.
Second, don’t procrastinate. Delays are deadly. They rob others of needed help and blessing, and fill us with guilt and remorse.
Third, do it diligently. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing well.
Finally, do it for God’s glory. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God,” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
We should all have the spirit of Amy Carmichael, who wrote, “The vows of God are upon me. I may not stay to play with shadows or pluck earthly flowers till I my work have done and rendered up an account.”
