Worthless Ventures With This Life In Christ
“Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
Matt. 7:22–23 NKJV
On the football field when there is a match there are three categories of people; the footballer, the football officials and the spectators. The first two categories have rewards for their labour but there are special remunerations for the clubs, particularly the winner. But the spectators, many of them go the extra mile and pay heavily to travel especially if the match is abroad. Considering the risk of flight, the possibility of a plane crash. But I keep asking what is their gain or reward for being a fan and venturing into such ventures? Could it be considered a worthless venture for anyone who goes and watches football and dies as a result of the hazards that attend a lot of spectators? Just thinking and I am not intending to cast aspersions.
It is a worthless venture for any brother or sister to be a spectator in God’s vineyard and the field of the world. God never save anyone to be a spectator but many choose to be. It is ridiculous that many since they came into Christ do nothing but fold their hands and criticize, condemn and jeer at the players in the spiritual race. They leave their portion in divine service and they are wasting away in these worthless ventures. We need not be confused about their judgment even though they made themselves illegal judges of the players in their criticism and condemnation. They could be rated as unprofitable servants whose eternal destiny is eternal fire.
The text above reveals active players in the vineyard and in the field of soul harvest who did not labour according to rules. Working but not walking after the pattern of Christ but their labour has stupendous results only to realize at the point of no amendment that they have spent all of the strength from their prime years till old age on worthless ventures! When you came into Christ and you are living your life as you like and doing ministry as you like that is lawlessness. When you confess Christ and preach Christ but your life and labour do not conform to Christ’s pattern of life and labour you are already in a worthless venture.
When your life and labour split the body of Christ, cause offence for the saved and pampers people in their sins but you are becoming popular, prosperous and powerful you are already in a worthless venture. “
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Rom. 16:17–18NKJV)
When your preaching, teaching and church activities are from envy, vain glory, disputing, murmuring, afflicting genuine preachers with your negative influence on people. That’s a worthless venture! When you only love to be preeminent to oppress the faithful, hinder the passionate workers who want to advance God”s purpose at all cost and malign faithful workers. It’s a pity you are already in worthless ventures with this life in Christ.
“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also goodwill, the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;” (Phil. 1:15, 16NKJV)
“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” (3 John 9–10NKJV)
Beloved, we all choose who we are and what we do before either God or the devil backs us up. We choose to fall and we choose to stand. With this life in Christ, we choose either worthwhile ventures or worthless ventures. We all shall end our lives either as a zero or a hero on judgment day. Diotrephes chose to be a curse to the brethren and the servants of God, and Gaius and Demetrius chose to be blessings to the brethren and the servants of God. Choose this day what you will do with this life in Christ, worthwhile ventures or worthless ventures!
Shalom!
