Suffering: Unemployment, Like Matthew
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV)
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
Matthew was a wealthy tax collector. His closest friends were tax collectors, too. They achieved the perks of prosperity by unfairly taxing their fellow Jews.
Understandably, people despised them. Because taxmen were collaborators: helping their conquerors and taking bribes.
Perhaps Matthew was an honest taxman, or maybe he was seeking a way out. Either way, he abandoned his posh job.
'He left behind the source of his riches; he left his position of security and comfort--for traveling, hardship, and eventual martyrdom; he left his old life for a new life with Jesus.' *
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
Matthew lost his job. Have you felt that pain? Because when we follow where Jesus leads, we give up old ideas of success and old ideas of security.
But with the clarity found in hindsight, Christians everywhere can easily see: Matthew found the NEW best job of his life, but it wasn’t “logical” at the time.
Performing jobs aren’t “logical” either. Your income may be less than it could be. Certainly, most performers subsidize their calling with more normal employment, much like self-funded missionaries do.
Therein, don't accept the word, “unemployed” or a put-down like “underachiever” spoken by “under-enlightened” people. Because when you're going where God’s calling, you're working to please the Ultimate Boss.
His goodwill alone ensures all futures. His rewards alone are TRUE abundance.
Suffering: Unemployment, Like Matthew (Part 31)
* Short article: Who was Matthew in the Bible? Who was Matthew in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!