Work at It

Posted on January 18, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” (Ps. 100:2a)

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11)

Malcolm Gladwell, in his book Outliers, coined what he calls the “10,000-Hour Rule.” He argues that above a necessary level of aptitude—in whatever the field or endeavor—the single greatest contributing factor to a person’s success is the amount of time he or she spends working on it. True mastery, he says, is only achieved after ten thousand hours of effort, even for those who already possess the innate, baseline skill for it.

Think about how many times a basketball player shoots baskets. Or how many times a batter takes batting practice. Don’t we all want a surgeon who has performed his specialty many, many times before you become the next patient? Don’t you want an experienced pilot with many hours of flying time to be the pilot of your flight no matter how short?

It’s the same way with Christian service. Given an ability, you become much more proficient as you practice it, put it to use. Teaching Sunday School, leading the youth group, singing or playing solos, leading a Bible study, doing home visitation, preaching, etc. Practice makes perfect…well, you’ll never be perfect, but you’ll be much, much better.

That’s why God could say to a resistant Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?” The problem with Moses wasn’t that he couldn’t speak well. The problem was that speaking required his faith-filled effort if God was to work through him.

Learn that lesson today. The issue is not what you can or can’t do, based on your analysis of your personal abilities. The Word says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10). “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Your less-than-talented areas can only hold you back if you say you won’t try.

Remember that whatever you do, whatever your aptitude, it can be used to serve Jesus…here at home or on foreign fields. Office workers, people skilled with their hands, mechanics, teachers, medical personnel, etc. are desperately needed. Are you qualified and willing?

Written by Rev. Neil Fitchthorn Rev. Neil Fichthorn is a seasoned conference and camping servant having served at Gull Lake Bible Conference, Sandy Cove Ministries as President, and an interim Executive Director at Pinebrook Bible Conference. He also served in church music for decades as a choir director and arranger. He has been Bill Welte’s mentor and friend for over 45 years.

The Daily Bible Reading: Genesis 43-45, Romans 15:1-13| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Daily Quote: “Try to forget yourself in the service of others. For when we think too much of ourselves and our interests, we easily become despondent. But when we work for others, our efforts return to bless us.” -Sidney Powell

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” -Genesis 3:15