NOT FOR PROFIT?(5)
*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*NOT FOR PROFIT?* (5)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Luke 17: 7-10
v7.*But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?*
v8 *And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?*
v9 *Doth, he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.*
v10 *So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
1 Cor 12:7 (NLT) *A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.*
What you hope to gain personally must never outweigh what Heaven hopes to gain.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
To every assignment God gives us, there are directives. Most important is doing as He commands.
Yesterday, we saw how doing what was commanded us was a priority. Therefore, doing much more, in accordance with what was commanded, is commendable to God.
The servant in the parable of the unprofitable servant did not receive any commendation from his master. As a result, he was frustrated and declared himself unprofitable.
Today, we will look at likely frustrations that may lead a servant to pursue other alternatives he may think will make him profitable.
Personal gain, social recognition, and fame may be sources of temptation.
If we deviate towards personal gain, all in the name of doing what was commanded us, we will be unprofitable in God's eyes.
There are followers who follow God but may be doing it the wrong way.
We gave a perfect example of Peter, who went fishing. It was also a perfect example of survival that propelled a disciple to go after a vocation that made his service questionable before God.
No matter what we may face in discipleship, drawing towards a personal gain will make us unprofitable to God.
Frustration, not getting appreciable acknowledgment, survival may tempt us to pursue personal gains all in the name of the gospel. In addition to gain, we may be tempted to get public acceptance.
Many times, many of us do not see ourselves reaping any monetary gain from what we do for God, so we are tempted to venture and commercialize our gifts and talents.
We must be careful.
We must not see ourselves unprofitable or unfruitful when God has not seen us this way.
Whatever we do that amounts to personal gain will make us unprofitable servants, even if we do it joyfully, with hard work and acceptance from people.
In other words, it is not bad to do more for God as long as it is not for our personal gain.
Many things we do today are an unnecessary extension of the talent God has given us.
When we do this, God considers it as work that deserves no credit.
We may be hard working, or may reap more monetary gains, but if it becomes hard for a small gathering to reap or afford the benefit of your Kingdom gift, you will be a servant who deserves no credit from God.
Remember, you are not an unprofitable servant just because you do not get the recognition you need after you have done what you are commanded to do. You become one when your prohibitive personal gain outweighs what the Kingdom people ought to gain from you.
*Remorse corner.*
You will become unprofitable if you pursue alternatives outside God that you consider personally profitable. For example, an alternative that offers fame.
*Call to Word action.*
The measure of God's gifting in our lives should be the standard by which we use to bless God's people. If God has given you, make it accessible to the children of God regardless, (ref 1 Cor 12:7).
*The Christian clarion duty.*
What people have or do not have should not be our standard of blessing people with our gifts.
*Prayer.*
Let me not delay the manifestation of the children of God by my personal gain. Let not what l hope to gain outweigh Kingdom expectations of me, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day today.
God bless you.