Faithfulness in Our Calling

Arrogance and pride are two attitudes we must guard against at all times. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” I have watched the mantle of the Lord removed from ministers time and time again because they believed they were above the rules.

I remember a discussion with a few fellow ministers some years ago. We were talking about making mistakes in life and disappointing those we ministered to. The common response was “well I’m human and you just need to get over me disappointing you, it happens.” I was speechless…the arrogance of that statement astounded me. When you start to think ‘you’re all that and a bag of chips’, you are in serious trouble.

While we are proud of the accomplishments of our teams and business, the glory goes to the Lord past, present and future. Yes, we work hard and constantly strive to improve our program, however, we know it is through His hand we have prospered.

Be ever vigilant in understanding where your strength comes from. Many a person has started well and ended poorly. There are examples of how not to act all around us, decide today whom you will serve and where your strength comes from.

Blessings

Faithfulness in Our Calling
by Os Hillman

“He went out to meet Asa and said to him, ‘Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’” – 2 Chronicles 15:2

Asa was the king of Judah from 912-872 B.C. He reigned for 41 years and was known as a good king who served the Lord with great zeal. He reformed many things. He broke down idol worship to foreign gods; he put away male prostitutes and even removed his own mother from being queen because she worshiped an idol. The Scriptures say that as long as he sought the Lord, the Lord prospered his reign.

However, Asa was not totally faithful in his calling. There came a time in his life when he made a decision to no longer trust in the God of Israel. He lost his confidence in God as his deliverer. The prophet Hanani came to Asa to inform him that God’s blessing was no longer on his life because of an ungodly alliance he had made.

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war (2 Chronicles 16:8-9).

There are no guarantees that if we began well we will finish well. The life of Asa tells us this. It is only through God’s grace that we can be faithful to our calling. Each of us is capable of falling away from God. Pray that God will keep you faithful to the purposes He has for your life. He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.