8.2. ACCEPTING HIS LORDSHIP MEANS BEING WILLING TO WORK HOW HE WANTS US TO WORK

Certainly that means the Lord requires us to be busy. The Lord taught a parable in Luke 19:11-27, concerning faithfulness. A certain nobleman, having given money to ten servants, said to them: "Do business till I come." All but one of the servants traded with their master's money, and according to the amount gained, were given cities over which to have authority. One of the servants came before the Lord and said:

Luke 19:20, 21 "... Master, here is your mina, which I have kept in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow."

The man was called a wicked servant, and was asked why he had not deposited the money in a bank to get interest. The money was taken from him and given to the one with ten minas.

Luke 19:25, 26 "But they said to him, 'Master, he has ten minas.' 'For I say unto you, that to everyone who has, will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

This emphasizes that we are to be busy in the work of His choice - that is part of faithfulness. He also insists that we get results from our work - that also is faithfulness. Too often when there is little or nothing to show for a man's work, the trite saying has been "but he was faithful - that is all the Lord requires". This parable teaches differently. No return, no reward. The Lord will always reward honest hard work. That was the trouble with the servant in the parable - he was lazy. He admitted it when he said he had put the money in a handkerchief. That is a sweat rag which went around the neck. He was actually admitting: "I did not intend to sweat." He was wicked and lazy - unfaithful.

Your Lord requires that you work, and He will reward your honest sweat and toil beyond your highest expectations. In response to your request: "How shall I work?", the Lord says: "Faithfully. Do business till I come."

The Lord will direct as to where He wants you to work. We have an example of this in the direct leading of the Holy Spirit as to where He wanted Paul and company to work.

Acts 16:6-10 "Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bythinia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying: 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them."

The Lord has His place for each of us. Do not try working where the Lord has forbidden; the consequence is often lack of success. Anticipate specific leading and concrete confirmation.

His instructions are not to be added to or partly obeyed. Faithfully carry out the Master's requirements. Be a Tychicus, a "faithful minister in the Lord".

Having considered the requirements the Lord places upon those who would accept His complete control and rule, show that He is your Lord by going His way - being His temple - yielding to His life - by beaming His light - accepting His authority in your relationships - receiving His strength - and serving Him faithfully.

Make your complete surrender to His Lordship now.