[The following is a manuscript of my message delivered on Sunday morning the 21st of July, 2019 at Pilgrim Reformed Church. Look for the video of our services on our Vimeo channel: http://vimeo.com/pilgrimreformedchurch.]
Two weeks ago we saw the help wanted sign that Jesus posted in our scripture. Last week we read through the job description a little. This week we'll take a closer look at what it means to work the fields in a manner that Jesus would find good and acceptable. And what better way to know what Jesus would want than to hear it from His brother, James.
Listen to what James wrote regarding what I like to think of as some of the rules of working the fields for our Lord. This comes from the 2nd chapter of James’ letter to the early church, verses 1 through 13, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
Listen to what James wrote regarding what I like to think of as some of the rules of working the fields for our Lord. This comes from the 2nd chapter of James’ letter to the early church, verses 1 through 13, and I’ll be reading from the New King James Version of our Holy Bible…
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
--James 2:1-13 (NKJV)
Let us pray… Lord Jesus, just like everything in this life, there are rules to follow even when doing Your work. We must be mindful that what we do in Your name will be seen as righteous by our Father God. Father, thank You for guiding us in our labors. Please help us to be strong and courageous and impartial in our work. And speak to us, Father, speak to our minds and our hearts, that we may hear Your message this day. Give us clearer vision into Your will for our lives. This we pray in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
There's a wonderful story from long ago about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstall’s, Peabody’s, and other of Boston's first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: "We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work."
The Chicago bank didn’t care so much about who the young man was, but about what he could do. And so it is with God, who is not so much a respecter of persons, but accepts those from every family, nation, and race who fear Him and work for His kingdom. The Apostle Peter first noted this as recorded by the Apostle Luke in his Book of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, verses 34 and 35…
If God, the Almighty Creator of everything, shows no partiality, shouldn’t we follow His example? Early on, Peter was quite prejudiced against the Gentiles. He thought since Jesus was a Jew that only Jews should have the opportunity of knowing Jesus and being given eternal life. God showed him just how wrong he was.
In reading the Old Testament, we can see that God had intended for the Jews to minister to the Gentiles all along. Instead, they got too hung up on the law and on themselves. God tried to remind them of what was truly important. Listen to what He said through His prophet Micah in chapter 6 verses 6 through 8 of his book…
Burnt offerings, animal sacrifices, offerings of oil… Will any of these atone us of our sins? No, not even if we were to sacrifice our own child.
What does God expect? That we do what is right in His eyes. That we do what is just and right. That we show love and mercy. That we are humble in our walk through this life, in our daily dealings.
The great prophet Isaiah gave a similar warning to us. Hear what God spoke through his prophet in the 1st chapter of the Book of Isaiah, verses 10 through 17…
God is sick of the burnt offerings, the blood sacrifices that His people make without thinking, without feeling. It isn’t the acts He is tired of, but the manner in which they are carried out, with all the pomp and ceremony. They are meaningless if they have no meaning to the people doing them.
Instead, what does God want? That we cleanse ourselves of our sins and get them out of His sight. That we repent, give up our evil ways and do what is good and right. That we seek justice, not just for ourselves but for everyone. That we help the oppressed and stand up for those who are unable or afraid to fight for themselves.
God sacrificed His own Son on our behalf. He sacrificed the spotless Lamb, once for all time, to atone us of our sin. He said we don’t need to offer any more sacrifices, but instead we are to be merciful, to defend the defenseless, to act in a righteous manner in all things.
We are to conduct any and all business dealings with honor, respectfully, honestly, humbly, as if dealing directly with God. We are to treat all people with love, as Jesus loves us. We are to show no partiality, no concern for race or language or country of origin, no special consideration to the rich or the poor or because of one’s station in life.
In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says that if we are truly in Christ, then we are a new creation, the old has passed away and been replaced by the new. This means that once we accept Jesus as Lord, we aren't supposed to just keep doing things the way we've always done them! It’s no longer business as usual. And in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us to be kind to one another, be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgives us.
All of these are our rules for working the fields for our Lord. In all things, we must act in love, showing the love of Jesus, dealing honestly, setting aside our pride in true humbleness, being merciful even to those who would do us harm, standing up for those who can’t stand on their own. Because we cannot show other people Christ Jesus if they can’t see Him in us! Let everyone who sees you see Jesus in action. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, to You, we are all the same. We are all a part of Your creation. You place no value on what the world thinks important. You are impartial. Thank You, Father, for loving us all the same and giving us all the same chance if we would only believe. Please give us the strength and the courage to get out there and work Your fields before the great harvest comes. Please forgive us when we are fearful or hesitant to do so. Please strengthen us and encourage us in our labors.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, even in Your day the harvest was great and ripe for the picking. You chose men to help You in that harvest, and then, as You prepared to leave this earth once again, You assigned Your church the mission of carrying on Your work. Thank You, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to serve You. Please be with us and help us continue what You began.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
There's a wonderful story from long ago about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowell. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstall’s, Peabody’s, and other of Boston's first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: "We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work."
The Chicago bank didn’t care so much about who the young man was, but about what he could do. And so it is with God, who is not so much a respecter of persons, but accepts those from every family, nation, and race who fear Him and work for His kingdom. The Apostle Peter first noted this as recorded by the Apostle Luke in his Book of the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 10, verses 34 and 35…
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."
--Acts 10:34-35 (NKJV)
In reading the Old Testament, we can see that God had intended for the Jews to minister to the Gentiles all along. Instead, they got too hung up on the law and on themselves. God tried to remind them of what was truly important. Listen to what He said through His prophet Micah in chapter 6 verses 6 through 8 of his book…
6 With what shall I come before the Lord,
And bow myself before the High God?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
With calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
Ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
My own child for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
--Micah 6:6-8 (NKJV)
What does God expect? That we do what is right in His eyes. That we do what is just and right. That we show love and mercy. That we are humble in our walk through this life, in our daily dealings.
The great prophet Isaiah gave a similar warning to us. Hear what God spoke through his prophet in the 1st chapter of the Book of Isaiah, verses 10 through 17…
10 Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.”
Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”
11 “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”
says the Lord.
“I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of fattened cattle.
I get no pleasure from the blood
of bulls and lambs and goats.
12 When you come to worship me,
who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?
13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts;
the incense of your offerings disgusts me!
As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath
and your special days for fasting—
they are all sinful and false.
I want no more of your pious meetings.
14 I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.
They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them!
15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.
Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen,
for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.
16 Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
17 Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows."
--Isaiah 1:10-17 (NLT)
Instead, what does God want? That we cleanse ourselves of our sins and get them out of His sight. That we repent, give up our evil ways and do what is good and right. That we seek justice, not just for ourselves but for everyone. That we help the oppressed and stand up for those who are unable or afraid to fight for themselves.
God sacrificed His own Son on our behalf. He sacrificed the spotless Lamb, once for all time, to atone us of our sin. He said we don’t need to offer any more sacrifices, but instead we are to be merciful, to defend the defenseless, to act in a righteous manner in all things.
We are to conduct any and all business dealings with honor, respectfully, honestly, humbly, as if dealing directly with God. We are to treat all people with love, as Jesus loves us. We are to show no partiality, no concern for race or language or country of origin, no special consideration to the rich or the poor or because of one’s station in life.
In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul says that if we are truly in Christ, then we are a new creation, the old has passed away and been replaced by the new. This means that once we accept Jesus as Lord, we aren't supposed to just keep doing things the way we've always done them! It’s no longer business as usual. And in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells us to be kind to one another, be tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgives us.
All of these are our rules for working the fields for our Lord. In all things, we must act in love, showing the love of Jesus, dealing honestly, setting aside our pride in true humbleness, being merciful even to those who would do us harm, standing up for those who can’t stand on their own. Because we cannot show other people Christ Jesus if they can’t see Him in us! Let everyone who sees you see Jesus in action. In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray… Father God, to You, we are all the same. We are all a part of Your creation. You place no value on what the world thinks important. You are impartial. Thank You, Father, for loving us all the same and giving us all the same chance if we would only believe. Please give us the strength and the courage to get out there and work Your fields before the great harvest comes. Please forgive us when we are fearful or hesitant to do so. Please strengthen us and encourage us in our labors.
Please hear us now, Father, as we come to You in the silence, speaking from our hearts, promising to turn from our sin, seeking Your forgiveness and Your help…
Lord Jesus, even in Your day the harvest was great and ripe for the picking. You chose men to help You in that harvest, and then, as You prepared to leave this earth once again, You assigned Your church the mission of carrying on Your work. Thank You, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to serve You. Please be with us and help us continue what You began.
This we pray in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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