And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands . . . I Thes. 4:11
I underlined this verse in the Bible that I used all through high school and this verse is still underlined in the Bible I use today. I believe this verse is the essence of good character and a strong work ethic.
The Biblical Example
In Numbers 16:41-50 we have the account of Moses and Aaron beseeching and angry God for mercy upon the rebellious Israelites. It is interesting to note that the day before this event, we have the confrontation with Korah and his followers. Korah and others believed it was time for Moses to step down and for Korah to lead them. Upon reading the account we find that God allowed the earth to swallow up Korah and his followers.
The VERY NEXT DAY the Israelites began to complain to Moses that it was his fault that Korah had been killed. As the people rose up on protest to Moses and Aaron, God’s anger was kindled. He told Moses and Aaron to “get out from among the people for I will consume them as in a moment”. God’s wrath was about to descent upon the Israelites for their rebellious nature and God was allowing Moses and Aaron to vacate the premises before He destroyed them. However, Moses and Aaron stayed! Yes, they did NOT leave as God had commanded them, they stayed to beg God for mercy upon His people. Moses and Aaron ran to the altar of Incense, Aaron took the incense in a scepter and ran among the people, separating the dead from the living and the “plague was stayed”. God honored their desire to protect the people God had entrusted them with.
This story seems to go against all we know about our relationship with God. We know we are to obey and not questions the authority of God, yet clearly Moses and Aaron did not obey, they stayed when they were told to leave, and still God honored their decision. Why?
Why did God honor their apparent disobedience? I believe we must understand the relationship Moses had with God. Moses understood the heart of God because Moses had a close, personal relationship with God. Moses knew that God was holy and God would be angry with the rebellion and insurrection of the people. Moses also knew that God deeply loved the Israelites; that they were His “chosen people” and that God had a plan for them. Moses also knew that God had given instructions for finding forgiveness through the law. Moses knew that God’s anger could be stayed by going through the channels He had given, namely, through the Tabernacle and the Altar of Incense. Moses also knew that by staying, he was risking his own life and the life of Aaron. I believe Moses was also telling God: “If you are going to take the Israelites, than you are going to take me too”.
Taking Action
Moses and Aaron illustrated an important characteristic in their initiative. They put action to their concern. This harkens back to the previous chapter on initiative. They didn’t begin by putting together a committee of concerned Israelites to figure out how to handle this dilemma. They didn’t wait for Wednesday evening prayer meeting to get the church together for prayer on this pending disaster. They didn’t look around hoping someone would take care of the problem. They ACTED! They took initiative and came up with a solution. They put effort behind their ideas. They took the information they had and put it to action.
Today in the Church we need Christians of action! We need Christians that don’t run to the Pastor with ideas hoping the ‘Lord will lay this burden on someone’s heart’. We need Christians who will get busy, be willing to try, and put some heart and desire behind the work at hand. Christians that will take Initiative because of the realization that time is short and the Lord’s coming is at hand!
Willingness to learn
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We need a generation of Christians willing to try something new, being very careful to address the fact that we don’t throw out our old standards and positions. Specifically we are talking about the old adage: “it’s always been done that way”. Perhaps there are new avenues and new methods to approach ministry.
Practical examples would be to cancel the Father and Son banquet at church and replace it with a Men’s retreat that would be more inclusive of broken homes and families. Maybe it is time to move the start time of the evening prayer service if it means more people would be able to make it.
Perhaps there is a new ministry, a new opportunity, or a change to an existing ministry that we have neglected to pursue because it would entail us learning to do something we have never done before. Let’s lay aside that hesitancy and boldly attempt something new for the Lord’s work.
Willingness to try
We must overcome our justified excuses for not attempting great things for God. In our fear and intimidation, we reject that fact that God is not looking for accomplished professionals, but rather willing subjects. God has the power, the talents, the wisdom, the knowledge. We are just supposed to be the willing participant.
I have often seen the person that I would deem least likely to accomplish a ministry be the person that not only faithfully fulfills the responsibility, but also thrives in that role.
Take blame – even unjustified
Taking responsibility may mean that you take responsibility for things you didn’t do. Yes, I know that goes contrary to our natural reaction, but that is often the role of those in leadership. As a Pastor I have often stood before the congregation and apologized for and error in the bulletin or a misprint on the calendar that I had nothing to do with. As the leader; the buck does indeed stop with me. This needs to be the mindset of the father, the husband, the boss, the teacher, the deacon, the Pastor, the congressman, and the President. Those in leadership need to take the responsibility for the misstep even when they did not directly make the mistake. This will show that you are not only able to shoulder the blame, but will earn terrific respect from those who actually made the mistake.
We see that Daniel (in Daniel chapter 9) prayed for God’s mercy and God’s forgiveness for the nation of Israel. Throughout the chapter we see Daniel refer to “we” and “us” having sinned and erred. It would have made sense for Daniel, who had lived his life in captivity, to pray about how “they” had sinned and left God’s precepts – but he did not. Daniel took responsibility for his wayward countrymen upon his own shoulders – and God heard and answered his prayers!
Christ shouldered our sin and bore our shame and complained not at all!
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