–Luke Short  (Hard Money)

 

       “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

                    –1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

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There was a restaurant that closed down not too long ago in town.  I always wondered what happened as it seemed to be doing a good business.  Finally, another business owner in town told me what happened.  They couldn’t get anyone to work.  That’s a shame!  A thriving enterprise going under simply because no one wanted to work.  Recently I heard of another situation.  A young graduate secured himself a good job with outstanding pay and benefits, especially for an opening position.  He found out that he had to work on a Saturday and threatened to quit.  My mercy!  Yes, I know that there are those who throw their lives away working on a career, but at the same time there are those who would rather play around and receive a handout than to put in an honest day’s work.

       So what do we call these people, those who want their loans paid for them, those who do not want to work or do not do a quality job when working?  Sluggards!  Sloths!  Loafer!  Ne’er-do-well!  Bum!  Slacker!  And I’m sure we could add more to the list.  The Bible has much to say about work, and about an idler.  There is great dignity to work, and also to quality work.  Work is to be done for the glory of God and for the common good of the people.  Someone said that “we are called to live the eternal life now, in all of life, and especially in our work.”

       My Aunt once remarked to my Dad, that she thought “Daddy, worked him too hard.”  My Dad rebuked her saying that one of the most important things that “Daddy” ever did for him was to teach him to work and work hard.  Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “Nothing is better for a man…than that his soul should enjoy good in his labor.  This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” (2:24, NKJV) and he continues “So I perceived that nothing is better than that a man should rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage…” (3:22, NKJV).  Work is part of God’s plan for man; he was put in the garden to work it.  And in saying that, if Adam was to work, if that was God’s plan, why do we think we will float around on little clouds playing a harp in heaven?  No, there will be some kind of work.  When Christ comes to rule on earth, He will place some over ten cities, some over five, and so on–in other words, there will be work to do.

       Paul gives a warning, that perhaps those who bounce around or sit at home waiting for their welfare check, should give heed.  “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this:  If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.  For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, NKJV).   As Woodrow Call said in “Lonesome Dove,” “A hard day’s work never hurt anybody”.

       Those who want their school bill canceled–work and pay it off.  Find a job, make something of yourself.  Remember, it is not money that makes the man, but the man who earns and toils for the money.  Money has an end; it is not to be loved but to be used for the kingdom of God as good stewards.  What happened to the unfaithful–the lazy steward, or should I call him the “sluggard”?  He was cast out.  People should know you by your work and the quality of it.  As the quotation at the beginning of the Echo:  “A man’s work was his badge of honor.”

                    –Ecclesiastes 8:6 (NKJV)
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Today we finish with Psalm 109.  This portion contains some interesting information that can help us deal with life, and put trust in the Lord despite our circumstances.  

          20 — Let this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, and to those who speak evil against my person.
          21 — But You,O GOD the Lord, deal with me for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
          22 — For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
          23 — I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.
          24 — My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
          25 — I also have become a reproach to them; when they look at me they shake their heads.
          26 — Help me, O LORD my God!  Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
          27 — That they may know that this is Your hand–that You, LORD, have done it!
          28 — Let them curse, but You bless; when they arise, let them be ashamed, but let Your servant rejoice.
          29 — Let my accusers be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.
          30 — I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
          31 — For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.  (NKJV)

David doesn’t hesitate, he went straight to the Lord for deliverance from false accusers.  He asked for divine protection from the relentless attack against the evil coming at him.  He seeks the Lord’s mercy and deliverance and through that the Lord would be glorified.  One thing that stood out to me was that David proclaimed that he was “poor and needy.”  For sure he could not have meant monetarily poor–that is, unless he no longer had the resources at hand.  David may have been physically and emotionally without resources–this was when Absalom was threatening to take over the kingdom.  Imagine, a son trying to overthrow their father.  David’s heart was wounded, his strength was flowing from him.  Where else could he turn to but the Lord?
     Yes, there was another way he could turn, but David would never go there.  Charles Spurgeon said, “God will not be absent when His people are on trial; He will stand in court as their advocate, to plead on their behalf.  How different is this from the doom of the ungodly who has Satan [the accuser] at his right hand.”  Satan appeals to some and they follow but when the chips are down there is nothing he can do to help them.  Instead he sneers and laughs at their predicament and doom.  The Lord is always there, as David well knows despite his mood and disposition.  He knows that he can always depend upon Him.  
     “Let them curse,” he says knowing that it will only bring more of God’s blessing to him.  Eventually they would force the hand of God to move on behalf of David.  David says that he would then rejoice that he was on God’s side.  David then ends this psalm with adoration and thanksgiving.  God is standing at his right hand, in fact, He stands at the right hand of the poor and needy.  He is their strong tower and defender.  Steven Lawson points out that there are three parts to this Psalm:  prayer–the injustice is committed to the Lord, and He is asked to deal with the person and situation; patience–we get so anxious and want to do things our way immediately and often do not give the Lord time to act.  God is long-suffering we need to realize that; and finally, praise–David began and concluded this psalm with praise.  “Do not let someone else douse cold water on your flaming love for God.” (Lawson)  
     We may not have an “Absalom” trying to overthrow us, but we have needs that seem to work on our minds, body, and soul.  There may be areas of our lives in which we seem powerless and are weary and worn by them.  We are a needy people–recognize that God is there to save us from those who condemn or accuse and that includes the devil.

               “Poor and naked, sick and blind,
               Bound fast in misery,
               Friend of the needy, let me find
               My help, my all in thee.”
                       –Charles Wesley

                          –C. J. Petit  (Retribution)

       “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”

                         –Revelation 3:21(NKJV)
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Once in a while, many years ago when Ronald Reagan was President, my Grandma and Aunt would scurry around cleaning up the house.  They would hustle and bustle cleaning and tidying things up.  They’d look over at me and smile, “You never know, Nancy might come knocking at the door one day and we wouldn’t want the house a mess.”  Now we all knew that Nancy Reagan wasn’t going to come visiting our humble abode, but it was fun pretending.  With that I want to share this morning from Lois A. Cheney’s book, God Is No Fool.

          “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
                    “What door?”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
                    “What will it cost to let you in?”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
                    “Let me tidy up a bit.  I’d be embarrassed to have you see things as they are here, just now.”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
                    “It will truly be an honor, a moving experience, to have you in my humble home.”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
          . . .
                    “I want so much for you to come in.”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock.”
           . . .
                    “Please, oh please, let yourself in.”
          “Behold I stand at the door and knock
          Behold I stand. . .
          Behold . . .”

Here we have the picture of Christ knocking.  He is knocking at the door to your inner home.  How do you respond?  Christ wants to enter.  He has paid the supreme sacrifice on Calvary and is wanting to give the gift of His precious blood to you.  What is the response?  Some will ignore the knock.  Others will worry about the cost, oh, and friend, let me tell you–it will cost you everything, but then you’ll receive even more when He comes to abide with you.  True, some are embarrassed.  When the preacher gives the invitation, pride and shame haunt them and they will not take that step.  Some are happy, but still do not open the door.  Perhaps they feel it is sufficient that the Lord even took the time to knock on their door.  And then there are those who are hard, and snap, “the door’s unlocked let yourself in.”  Rudeness is apparent.
     People say they want a relationship with Jesus, but then they refuse to open the door.  They hide something, or try to clean up something, and before they know it, the Lord has moved on.  When Christ knocks on the door, there is great responsibility.  Eternity depends upon your response.  A man has a choice, to answer or not to answer.  Jesus will not break in; He must be invited in to dine with you.  “Every man is lord of the house of his own heart; it is his fortress; he must open the gates of it…” (Trench)
     No matter the urging, the man must open the door.  No matter how hard the Master knocks, the door still must be opened by the owner.  No matter how the Holy Spirit pleads, the door must still be opened.  Worried about the cost, don’t be.  Too ashamed, Jesus was beaten, spit upon, and mocked.  Don’t bother with tidying up, He knows all about you, just let Him in.  Think of what it would be like for the Lord to sit down and dine with you.  If you are a true believer, you know that feeling.  You have that relationship.  He is your constant companion.  
     Let me close with Henry A. Harbuck’s translation.  Take time to ponder and contemplate.  Note the emphasis given.
               “Behold–pay attention!  I am standing at the door and knocking.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he [will in like manner] eat with me.”

                    –Jeremiah 7:24(NKJV)
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                    “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday!”
                           –U.S. Navy Seal slogan

My wife’s cousin, Nancy, always finishes a note or letter with “Ever onward.”  That’s the way it should be, no, that’s the way it must be in our Christian walk and life; and I would add it is ever upward as well.  It is ever onward, never stalling or going backwards.  Another word of caution:  “No Coasting!”  Greg A. Lane states that “Coasting will always take us downhill.”  Our walk is an uphill climb to the portals of glory.  We sing, “I want to stand on heaven’s tableland”, but do we really put forth the effort required?  
     Paul writes to the Philippians,

               “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  (3:12-14, NKJV)

He says to forget those things behind.  In other words, do not rest upon your laurels.  We must put past successes and failures behind us; it is important that we remember accomplishments of the past, the lessons we learned, but we are not to use them to think our work is done.  Rejoice over the past, but turn your eyes to the present; you cannot go forward by looking backward.  (Rick Renner)  We must press ever onward and upward.
     “Reaching forward,” or perhaps better is Harbuck, “reaching forth and exerting all my energy.”  That means we do not coast for the goals of the day, nor the goal of heaven.   “Reaching forward,” is to describe a runner approaching the finish line.  He is putting forth all his effort and his eyes are only on the goal.  Barclay says “it describes the man who is going flat out for the finish.”  No Coasting here.  This reaching out means to be “constantly reaching for it [the goal of perfection] in both attitude and lifestyle.” (Edward Starks)
      The climb, at times, is steep, while at other times it is only a hill we must conquer, but it must be climbed as well.  Try coasting uphill.  If you ever ridden a bike you know that is nigh impossible.  How far would you go uphill in a car if you didn’t press on the accelerator?  Yes, we can get tired and weary, but we continue ever onward and upward.

               “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”  (Hebrews 6:11-12, NKJV)

I like the way William Barclay translates part of this verse, “so that you may not become lazily lethargic…”  Harbuck translates this portion, “that you not be sluggish and lazy…”  Push through!  When you have done all to stand, continue to stand.  Go onward and upward, “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day…” (Johnson Oatman, Jr.)  Yes, sometimes we plod along, planting one foot in front of the other, at other times we are refreshed, and it seems that there are springs on our feet, but in either case we continue to go forward.
       Let me ask some questions in closing that I gleaned from the writings of Rick Renner.  Think carefully on these questions.  1)  Am I accomplishing the goals the Lord has given me?  Remember, there are long-range goals, heaven, discipleship, but there are also short-range goals; goals for each day and week.  2)  Can I stand before Him with a heart free of condemnation, knowing that I gave my very best effort, work, and faith to achieve His will?  True, no matter how hard we try we are not perfect, but we strive in that direction.  I used to tell students, especially my “perfectionists” that they can never be perfect, but they can always be excellent.  3)  What changes do I need to make?  On the way to the summit you might have to gear down (I drove once in the Sierra Nevadas with the brakes going out–used only my gears, made it to Carson City and had brakes put on).  So, learn how to use your gears, but never falter, never fail, keep going “ever onward and upward!”

 

                    “Forward lies the crown, and onward is the goal.”

                           –Charles H. Spurgeon