Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58.
Preamble:
Joyous accomplishments in God’s kingdom belong only to those who effectively labour in the fields of divine services, not to idle talkers who never get round to accomplishing anything for God, nor to armchair critics who relish badmouthing achievers and pointing accusing fingers to where the doers of good deeds got it wrong.
Mere talk is cheap, and any idle mind can easily find free engagements in it. Lazy louts always enjoy wearying serious labourers in the Lord's vineyard, organizing bumps on their ways, placing booby traps on their paths and criticizing them endlessly.
However, bonded servants of Christ are aware that critics always dog the tails of achievers! Besides, they’re very conscious that true honour of eternal dimension lies in the dignity of their work in the Lord’s vineyard.
In John 9:4, Jesus Christ Himself struck a chord of imperativeness in respect to this when He said, “I must work”. Thus, for the normal believers, serving the Lord here on earth always comes with a side-note of “must do”. Kingdom service cannot be an optional extra, it’s a royal duty and it’s voluntarily compulsory!
Comparing and Contrasting Busyness and Effectiveness
Many a time, people confuse busyness with effectiveness, and some people even trade busyness for effectiveness. This is rather unfortunate.
Activity is not productivity! Movement doesn’t always translate to motion, just like somebody could be running on a treadmill, sweating very profusely, and yet remain on the same spot.
Good works and great works are not always the same. More does not always mean better. In fact, sometimes, the greatest enemy of productivity is busyness. “Jack of all trades”, people say, “is a master of none”.
You are only productive to the extent that you are effective. Working effectively is working circumspectly. On the contrary, zeal without effectiveness (or winsomeness) is like energy without wisdom.
Being busy like a bee isn’t really an indicator of accomplishment in your kingdom services. Being effective is what produces eternal results because it focuses on getting souls saved and joining hands with fellow believers to raise a glorious Church.
You may at this juncture pause and ask yourself: “am I truly following the footsteps of the Master, Jesus Christ, in intentionally pursuing and doing the things that would please the Father”? (John 8:29). “Am I effective in touching lives for God”? “How many souls can trace their joy in the Lord to me today”?
God prefers that His people be engaged in activities that will provoke positive results and durable rewards. And, when He signals ideas to His set-men on earth, He expects them to pass the same to like-minded faithfuls (Psalms 68:11; 2Timothy 2:2). God save your soul if you become the hand the devil uses to stall God’s work!
Effectiveness in kingdom service is eternally rewardable (Matthew 19:27-29). It provokes gracious accomplishments here on earth, and hereafter, joy and durable bliss that lasts forever (Daniel 12:3; John 4:36). Observably, there are no heavenly rewards allocated for those who trade busyness for effectiveness on earth.
Moving From Just Being Busy To Becoming Effective
Now, let’s take a close look at what we must put in place in order to be effective in our kingdom services. Please note that these may change your worldview permanently!
Basically, you must accept responsibility for your assignment. Jesus Christ said that doing the will of God was His necessary “meat” (John 4:34). He also clearly identified His life’s purpose: “to seek and to save” (Luke 19:10).
Great Christian souls must equally know and accept that the task of winning the lost back to the Savior is every believer’s responsibility. If you aren’t thriving in it, don't blame anybody else, look critically inwards.
In this regard, choose to be faithful, available and teachable (F.A.T). There's no way you can be effective without these in place. Prioritize your life in such a way as to be enabled to render effective kingdom services, and please remember always that every excuse (or justification for ineffectiveness) is a lie wearing, perhaps, the garb of reason.
In addition, be positive in all you do and say. What you say and how you act are reflective of the state of your heart. And, what you say is a seed, which defines what you eventually get or become.
Stop dwelling on dismal issues, like bad economy, poor business climate, etcetera. Be exciting in your mandate delivery. Work zealously and tirelessly. Go to the highways and byways, and maximize opportunities.
Be deliberate in hitting your targets, and intentional in your quest to publish God’s Word. Be energetic and enthusiastic about what you are doing. Passion is life, and if you can add it to your kingdom services, you will certainly obtain the tangible results (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Furthermore, avoid distractions by all means. Reduce the clusters in your schedule and live a less encumbered life. Say “no” to any inappropriate demand on your time. Your time is your life; you don't want to just spend but invest it. Be focused. Be heavenly-minded, and be upward-looking, consistently.
Again, identify your core talents and the key activities that will make you reach your kingdom goals (Revelation 1:6). You are somebody: be the best at whatever you do. Engage your influence. Let the world be impacted by your currency of light (Matthew 5:13-16). Never bury your talents, you will answer to God for them.
Train and remain trainable
A major hallmark of true intelligence is trainability, and this is a critical requirement in raising resourceful disciples (or apprentices). You cannot say you are a disciple if you aren’t trainable. No apprentice ever became a master without training.
Sadly, some Christians act as if they’re untrainable (2Timothy 3:7). They become like millstones around their leader's neck. What a shameful liability to God’s kingdom!
Friends, take a cold, hard look at yourself, and evaluate the quality of your accomplishments in God’s kingdom services so far. Be honest to yourself, and arise to train smarter wherever you are missing the mark (1John 3:20-21).
Moreover, you must be prayerful if you hope to be effective. You need quiet moments to be alone with God and connect with Him as your true Source once in a while, or else you can't be energized for effectiveness. Those who talk too much, and are given to idle jesting, drain themselves so easily.
Consider your end (Deuteronomy 32:29). There is an exceptional joy reserved for good finishers. But to partake of this, you must constantly ask yourself, “What will God say about me at the end of time”? You must not faint, and you must never throw in the towel (Proverbs 24:10).
Brethren in Christ, let’s serve God fervently and effectively, now! Refuse to go empty-handed. You won’t see shame, and you won’t be disappointed at last, in Jesus name. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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