Produce and Protect
I Corinthians 9:16-18 NKJV
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
What is our motivation?
Christianity has always been very controversial.
Ever since the Shepherds in the field were told by an angel of the Lord about the Birth of the Messiah, to John the Baptist’s announcement of the arrival of The Lamb of God. Even up to His Death and Resurrection there has never been a time without controversy.
A Follower of Jesus Christ has been called to go against the pattern of this world. We have been commissioned to be the Salt and the Light.
Salt cleanses. It purifies and preserves.
Light robs the dark to expose what is hidden. Then it shines to keep the darkness at bay.
There is much work that needs to be done.
In the workforce there is something that is called Productivity.
In any workplace in corporate America this is, basically, the standard of how to keep track of how busy you are.
Are you producing revenue? Are costs being kept to a minimum? Is the business growing and expanding. Is there gain or loss?
Productivity is the amount of work that an individual or group as a whole can accomplish in a certain amount of time.
There was a survey that was presented by INC. Magazine.
In this survey 2000 professionals were asked questions about being productive in the workplace.
Some of the questions were about being distracted. Others were about interruptions.
The survey concluded that only 12.4% of the workers surveyed can contribute more than 6 actual hours if working in an 8 hour work day.
This is what was making these workers less productive.
31.6 interruptions a day
25.6 meetings per week
1.96 hours a day of unproductive task work
Another conclusion was that only 53.3% of time working is actually spent on productive work.
The Apostle Paul says something very interesting to the Corinthians.
What is my reward then?
Why do we do what we do?
Why are we not doing what we are Commissioned to do?
In a corporate business world if only 12% of people are doing a job, what percent do you think that people claiming Christ as Savior is doing theirs?
I would argue that it would be less than 12%.
How do I know this?
Productivity of Christian influence and behavior is down!
Way down.
Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The laborers are few.
There has always been a productivity problem in the heart of the Commision soul, not all but many.
What is the reward?
Let me ask this.
Where is your reward?
It is hard to understand the reality of Heavenly Rewards. In our minds we think of worldly physical rewards that we can utilize right now!
Our rewards in Heaven are totally dependent on the Goodness of God!
What is our reward?
An Eternal Inheritance through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
We die with Him, then we live with Him. Escaping the wrath of God, yes God is wrathful just as He is loving and kind.
There will be rewards in Heaven reserved for those that have labored in the Mission Fields for man’s sinful heart.
Reaping and sowing in unfertile ground for the seed of faith to be planted.
But it takes work.
In the workforce we are to perform services. When we sign up that we have agreed to do. One of those services is to produce.
As Born Again Believers, as children of Promise what have we signed up for?
In the economy of God, He gives us the Rewards first. Salvation, Restoration and Redemption!
He cleanses the impurities of sin and shame.
But the rewards don’t end in this life. We have faith that the Promise of Eternity rests and waits for all those that have repented, believed and followed!
Jesus has given us an advance of the rewards.
What do we do with them?
The other is to protect the assets of the owner.
What is that asset that we have been entrusted with?
The Gospel!
The Apostle Paul completely and totally understood what he had signed up for. He knew exactly what he was supposed to do.
He understood his assignment and also understood what the reward is.
But He also knew to who’s authority he was under.
His assignment was the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified!
There is a difference in trying to achieve for the world and achieving for Heaven.
One is work, the other is labor.
One is to earn, the other is to gain.
We labor for the Kingdom of God to gain more souls!
Or we should be.
Paul felt an obligation to proclaim the Gospel!
He says woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!
Imagine if our rewards were associated with our productivity!
Where would you stand?
Paul, like us, are called to perform and protect accordingly.
We have been paid for in advance by the Blood of Jesus Christ.
We work for the joy of serving Christ!
Part of our reward is knowing that when we produce more for the Kingdom of God by protecting and administering the Gospel to all of those that need it!
We talk about the Great Commission quit a bit. The reason we do this is to remind people that there is a very small percentage of professing Christians professing Christ.
What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.
This is the season where many are hurting and struggling.
Be a Good Worker for the Lord. Be His hands and feet. Be His mouthpiece.
Show His Love and express His mercy!
Produce today because time is short.
No one knows when our work shift will be over.
We should want to be one of Heaven’s top producers! The rewards are waiting, not just for you but for all that will hear and accept His offer!
Protect the Asset of the Holy Word of God!
We are to ensure that what has been entrusted to us does NOT go to waste!
Live like you have already been paid in advance. Because Jesus has already paid your price!
Pastor Ed