I Almost Do Everything For Jesus

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” Philippians 4:11 (NKJV)

 

In my younger days, the future meant very little to me. I was very much a “live for the moment” kinda guy. Everything I did only lasted a day or two before I was off to the next adventure to repeat the same day or two kinda results. I even adopted a rally cry that I once heard in song, “I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!” But to be kind to the rock band, Queen, the song was about having the ambition to grasp a future “for the dreams of youth.” Not too sure I understood all that ambition stuff at that particular moment, all I knew was, “I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now!” That was 1989…C’est la vie.

 

Looking back on it all, I gotta say that I had a very covetous heart. Everything I did was for me and for me only. Now that I’m on the roadway to exit my fifties I wish I could say that I do everything for Jesus Christ…but I can’t. Sad, but true. So, what’s my problem? Well, the best place to get that answered is Scripture and the best person to look to as an example on that answer is Jesus. Let’s go to His moment in the wilderness and look at something I didn’t see the first time around. (Go to Luke 4:1-13)

 

Even though it was the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness, it’ll be forty days without food and since Jesus has inhabited a human vessel, forty hours without food can have its side effect. Of course, the adversary sees his opportunity to disrupt God’s plan for His creations salvation with three temptations that I always understood as the same three lies that came from The Garden and have resulted in what we see as a clear warning, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16) I still hold on to this as truth but there’s a little nugget that I took for granted.

 

“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1). I’m gonna take this as meaning Jesus was content with just that provision and if He was content enough with that, it was gonna be really hard for Him to go from contentment to covetousness no matter what Satan had to offer. Why?

 

To quote Jesus, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38)

 

It’s really easy to do the will of the One who saved me when the going is going pretty good BUT when it ain’t going so good…eh, it kinda gets rough to keep the main thing the main thing. I’ve read somewhere that, “We cannot properly serve unless we are content. Lacking this virtue will make us prone to view situations from the angle of “how will this benefit me?” The conviction for me in this is even though I say I do what I do in His service, sometimes I ain’t fully content until I get my “Atta Boy” from someone other then the One who saved Me. (talk about a covetous heart) And even if there is something to “Atta Boy” me over, my earthly father use to tell me don’t look for rewards for doing the things that you should be doing anyway.

 

Some things in Scripture are tough to take to heart but the writer of Hebrews was very clear to point out…

 

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

 

If I conduct myself as if I am on some kinda pedestal because of my position in His salvation then I am guilty of idolatry and not content with the filling of the Holy Spirit. I need to understand that, like Jesus, when it comes to my needs, I need to be content with the provision granted me through my requests according to His will. Crying out “I want it all and I want it now”, may have its place in my youth (maybe not) but if I’m gonna say “not my will but yours” then I better understanding that’s its not me but Thee in whom I serve. Amen?

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) has been married for 25+ years (Kathy), has a married son (Kevin) and a daughter in college (Karen). He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net

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Think About This: “As difficult as it may be to hear that partial obedience is the same as idolatry, we can thankful to learn this. If we know what’s on the test, we can pass it every time. This is God’s goodness and mercy!” — John Bevere

The Daily Bible Reading: Psalms 148-150 , Proverbs 1-2| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. –Acts 4:13

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.