GOOD GOOD WORKS
If I’m being honest, my original plan was to perfect my writing skills and become a creative writer who just happened to be a Christian. I wanted to write compelling stories—some short, others sequels or novels—filled with whirlwind romances and drama. The dream was that, once I was more established, someone like Issa Rae or Reese Witherspoon would buy the rights to one of my books and ask me to turn it into a script.
In my prayer time, I would almost bargain with God, trying to convince Him that I’d manage to squeeze Him into my stories somehow. There would always be a Christian character, and I’d make sure to mention the gospel, at least in passing. As I continued bargaining, I thought, I can do both: devotional books and novels, e-books and TV scripts. I can honor Him and do my own thing at the same time. After completing my first devotional book, I started a book of short stories, and after completing a few, I hit a wall. Praying for inspiration, I fell deeper into a creative slump, but Full Circle and ideas for devotional books and study guides seemed to run around in my mind daily. Returning back to prayer, I brought scripture this time, reciting the passage about the talents, trying to convince God and myself that I was trying to honor Him with what He gave me.
After hearing my cousin decide to place his brand on pause because he was no longer sure if that was what God called him to do, I considered my own passions and prayers. After seeing other people on instagram pivot from one passion to whatever God was calling them to do, I paused again. Approaching God again, I asked for Him to give me the desire to serve His purpose only because I didn’t fully want to. Even with the subtle leadings and exposing of my own heart, I still wanted what I wanted. Have you ever found yourself bargaining with God, trying to fit Him into your plans, rather than asking what His plan might be for you?
It’s safe to say that through His power and love alone, we have the opportunity to choose obedience and seek His glory over our own. We are called to build on the foundation that Christ has already laid for us, to pursue and accomplish the purpose God has set before us, using the talents and gifts He has given us.
“I know that whatever God does, it endures forever; nothing can be added to it nor can anything be taken from it, for God does it so that men will fear and worship Him [with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is God]” Ecclesiastes 3:14
I never thought I would forget what my grandmother sounded like. Without a picture, her face blurs around the edges in my mind—I am actively forgetting her. Her smell, her voice, her laugh—they’ve all blended with other memories, as if life is slowly pushing the essence of her away. The details, her details, slip away more quickly over time.
But I do remember her answering the phone with, “Praise the Lord.” I remember her teaching my brother and me the meaning of communion. I remember Juanita Bynum blasting from her room and TBN always playing in the background. She loved the Lord, and her life reflected that love. I knew it, all my cousins knew it, and every one of her kids knew it.
We are all going to be forgotten. It’s just what happens. We weren’t made to live on earth forever. Yet in our pride and vanity, we want to be remembered, to matter, to somehow live beyond the grave. We do things in life trying to ensure that—promoting our own message, purpose, truth, and accomplishments. But in the end, everything we do, and the quality and character behind our works, will be revealed.
“Do not store up for yourselves [material] treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.” Matthew 6:19-20 [AMP]
Let’s explore some scripture that encourages us to be mindful of where, how, and on who we build our lives.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 “According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for my task], like a skillful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it for no one can lay a foundation other than the one which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
How are we prepared for the specific task God has called us to do? Through His remarkable grace. You don’t prepare for yourself for God ordained tasks, you don’t even know what it will take.
Building on any foundation other than Jesus Christ is fruitless and will not be sustainable.
Emphasis on “must be careful how he builds on it”—there is an opportunity for us to careless in how we build on the foundation of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:12-13 “ But if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will be clearly shown [for what it is]; for the day [of judgment] will disclose it, because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality and character and worth of each person’s work.
Work is described as: an act, deed, or thing done. Any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind.
The worth, quality, and character of any work or good deed we do outside of Christ amounts to nothing. It will get fried up.
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 “If any person’s work which he has built [on this foundation, that is, any outcome of his effort] remains [and survives this test], he will receive a reward. 15 But if any person’s work is burned up [by the test], he will suffer the loss [of his reward]; yet he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has barely escaped] through fire.
Scripture confirms other scripture! Ecclesiasties 3:14 says whatever God does endures forever and nothing can be taken from it. Anything we build on Christ will last forever and we are rewarded!
Anything we build apart from God, on the foundation of our heart and purpose, will get charred, burnt to a crispy crisp.
Emphasis on “yet he himself will be saved, but only as one who has BARELY escaped through fire”. You can get into heaven by the skin of your teeth and leave what God designed specifically for you on the table or you can take ahold of the works He has set aside for you and obtain your reward.
Matthew 7:24-25 “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man [a far-sighted, practical, and sensible man] who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Hearing the word AND applying it is a display of wisdom.
We are all building and working towards something in our lives. The only way we ourselves and what we build will not get destroyed is if we are building our entire lives on Christ.
Matthew 7:26-27 “And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great and complete was its fall.”
Scripture confirms scripture! James 1:22-24 states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”
It is foolish to only hear the word and not apply what it says. You are deceived if you believe that hearing the word alone is sufficient.
The destruction will be great and complete for anything or anybody rooted in anything other than Christ.
“For to everyone who has [and values his blessings and gifts from God, and has used them wisely], more will be given, and [he will be richly supplied so that] he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have [because he has ignored or disregarded his blessings and gifts from God], even what he does have will be taken away.” matthew 25:29
I wish I could say it’s easy to surrender your talents and gifts—to let go of the power to choose who you want to be. We’re told that Earth isn’t our final home, but it’s where we are right now. The validation and affirmation from others, the flashy displays of wealth through fashion and experiences, can be distracting and enticing. I would be lying if I said I didn’t still have to lay down my own plans for my life every day. To redefine wealth and worth, to reassess whose validation I’m truly seeking. I mean I am not a robot. I still have desires that don’t always have Jesus at the center, but I know that building my life on anything apart from His is foolish. It’s not how He called me to live, and it’s not how He called me to steward the gifts and talents He’s given me. On my best day, with the biggest plans I can dream up, they are nothing compared to what God has for me—what He has intentionally set aside, divinely and perfectly, for me to do.
As you reflect on your own gifts, talents, and plans for your life consider the following questions:
What plans or desires do you need to surrender today, trusting that what God has for you is far greater than anything you could imagine?
What is the quality, character, and worth of the work you have been doing on earth so far?
