Busyness: Your Boss

Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served... or the gods... in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.

1 Corinthians 3:9 (NKJV)

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NKJV)

Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. 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!'

Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.

Luke 13:27 (NKJV)

Busyness can be helpful or harmful, depending on WHO’S DIRECTING our work.

Here's THE big question: Is Jesus our King? Does He rule our lives? Does He head our church?

Actors, models, and talent for Christ: Consider this workplace scenario: You've got a good job, and you like your boss. He treats you fairly and he’s popular.

  • One day you discover he’s on the take. You rationalize, 'He works hard and gets amazing results.’

  • Your conscience pricks you. Should you report him? Should you ignore it? You’d rather lay low.

But when anyone ignores corruption, he becomes the servant of the sinner. 'You are that one's slaves whom you obey' (Romans 6:16). 'For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage' (2 Peter 2:19).

God’s point? Some faith leaders are on the take. They were in Christ’s day, They are in our day. With conviction and clever editing, His Word is carefully cut and pasted– from the Teacher’s context… into their own.

Here’s one example:

'The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly' (John 10:10).

Who’s defining what “abundant life” means?  Jesus or a prosperity preacher?

Considering how Christ defines Himself and King David’s inspired Psalm 23: our Boss is a Shepherd and we’re His sheep.*

  • Can sheep be wealthy accumulators?

  • Was Christ a wealthy accumulator? **

The abundance the King of kings describes is immeasurably more important:

  • Personal guidance in this troubled world

  • Pleasant places where we want for nothing!

  • Peace and replenishing restoration!

  • Protection, guidance, and comfort in Him!

  • Victory in front of our enemies!

  • Overflowing, uncountable blessings!

  • Goodness and mercy that track us through life!

  • Eternal life with God, when this life ends!

Our perfect Boss holds a rod and a staff--not a 20-minute talk and a wink.

Let's Cross-check pastors we choose to follow… and never forget to Cross-check ourselves, 'That we may become fellow workers for The Truth' (3 John 1:8).

Busyness: Your Boss (Part 1)

* Psalm 23: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=NKJV

** Certainly, Yes! Jesus has saved (accumulated) countless lost and despairing people. Yes! Their lives are priceless: wealth, beyond scope. But as a Man, He was NOT an accumulator of money or worldly possessions.

NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban