Classic Example of Faith Coupled with Works

The closest I ever got to Dolly Parton was last week, having one of my posts in the same edition of Chattanoogan.com as the news of her passing. Of course, I saw her on TV and in films, and visited her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., but my knowledge of Dolly was secondhand, as it was for most folks. So, I can’t write about her from personal experience. 

But from all accounts, the unique, larger-than-life, immensely talented Dolly left her mark in countless ways. Born and raised in the Smoky Mountains, her determination served to lift her from poverty to fame and fortune most of us can’t even imagine. Her fierce resolve became an inspiration for countless fans.

 

Her professional resume was impressive: Hall of fame singer and songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, author, philanthropist. The list goes on. If one were to select a favorite from Dolly’s hit songs, there would be many from which to choose.

 

For me, what stands out most is that she was a woman of faith. In many of her interviews Dolly spoke about her sense of calling, that God had anointed her for a special purpose and she was determined to fulfill it. Part of this was being an entertainer known for her iconic hairdos, figure, distinctive voice, ever-present smile and upbeat spirit. But she also fully understood the value and importance of what we often hear referred to as “paying it forward” – and living out her faith.

 

Her father was illiterate, and Dolly recognized how being able to read is a key ingredient in the recipe for success. So, she made it a personal mission to empower children to learn how to read and appreciate the joys of reading. This led to establishing her Imagination Library, which has gifted more than 330 million books to more than three million children in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland and Australia.

 

A story about her that I love began in 1988. According to the account, she went to a school in Sevier County – her home county in East Tennessee – and had every 7^th and 8^th grader come into a room. She instructed each to pick a buddy and had them all sign a contract: If both graduated from high school, both would receive a check for $500. If either failed, neither would get paid. Each child would be accountable to the other.

 

Before Dolly made this offer, the county’s school dropout rate was 35 percent. Motivated by the financial reward, students encouraged one another and most stayed in school, lowering the dropout rate to six percent. And she kept her promise, presenting the checks to each young person herself.

 

The next year she gave $500 to every student in the county who wanted to attend the local college. In 2016, when much of nearby Gatlinburg was ravaged by terrible fires, Dolly sent 900 families who’d been affected $1,000 a month for six months. Then, because a charitable fund for fire victims raised much more than expected, she gave each family an additional $5,000.

 

She spearheaded the building of a hospital in Sevier County that included a birthing unit and women’s center. One year she paid the full cost of college tuition, books and fees for every Dollywood employee. Dolly donated $1 million for the aid of victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and her companies matched it. 

 

There were many other significant acts of benevolence, certainly some that received no public notice. But what stands out is not the dollar amount of Dolly’s generosity, but the fact that she put feet to her faith.

 

We live in an age when many prominent individuals – especially in the entertainment industry – talk about the poor and the oppressed, all the while living in the secure confines of their palatial estates. All talk and very little action. Dolly Parton, however, saw needs and used her substantial resources to help in meeting them. Her faith, as well as never forgetting her impoverished upbringing, were among her motivators.

 

In the New Testament book of James, we read, “What good is it, my brothers, if a [person] claims to have faith but has no deeds?... In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17).

 

The Bible clearly teaches that we are not saved by good works, but solely by God’s grace, based on Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins. From what I’ve read and heard, Dolly Parton understood that. However, she also recognized she was a steward, not only of her talents but also of the material wealth the Lord had enabled her to accumulate.

 

Few people will ever acquire even a fraction of the financial resources Dolly had, but that doesn’t matter. We’re responsible only for what God provides, just as the servants were accountable for what their master had entrusted to them in the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25:14-30. The servants that had faithfully put to use what they had been given were rewarded with more, along with the commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

 

The principle is stated at the end of the passage: “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29). In other words, if we prove ourselves faithful in using whatever God has entrusted to us, He will entrust us with more that we can use for His glory.

 

I suspect that as Dolly arrived at the gates of Heaven, she heard two things: “Hello, Dolly!” And “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

After ‘Famous Last Words,’ What Will Be the First Words?

Not to seem morbid, but when your time comes, what do you think your final words will be? That’s a sobering thought, because most of us presume we’ll be speaking lots more words before that moment arrives. But it’s worth considering.

Through the centuries, the last words from famous people just before their death have been archived. Some reflect a final attempt at humor; others are encouraging; and some are heart-rending. Consider these examples:

On his deathbed, famed composer Beethoven is said to have uttered these words: “Friends applaud, the comedy is over.” Legendary actor Humphrey Bogart quipped, “I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis.” Comedian Groucho Marx said simply, “This is no way to live!” Reggae legend Bob Marley made this final observation: “Money can’t buy life.” And Winston Churchill, former prime minister of the United Kingdom, muttered this last sentence: “I’m bored with it all.”

 

Nostradamus, the 16^th century prognosticator, is still studied for some of his predictions. At least one of them, on his death bed, was correct: “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” Marie Antoinette was the wife of King Louis XVI and the last queen before the French Revolution. On her way to the guillotine, she accidently stepped on her executioner’s foot. The last words anyone heard her say were, “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (“Pardon me, sir.”)

 

Then there were those who clearly had their focus on what would happen after their final breath. Blues singer Bessie Smith stated, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.” And when Harriet Tubman was dying in 1913, with family gathered around her, she said, “Give my love to the churches. Tell the women to stand firm. I go to prepare a place for you.” 

 

Apparently with some regret Leonardo da Vinci, the renowned artist, scientist and engineer, declared, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” The sister of Steve Jobs, the entrepreneur, inventor and co-founder of Apple Inc., reported his final words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” No one knows what that meant.

 

Recounting famous last words is interesting, but what matters exponentially more are the first words we’ll hear after our lives have ended. What will they be? The Bible gives us a good idea of what we’ll hear – or at least something similar. They should either excite us – or terrify us.

 

Jesus Christ told a parable about an owner who had entrusted three servants with his property while he was away on a long journey. He expected them to properly manage what they had been given. Upon his return, he found two of the three servants had demonstrated good stewardship and were commended. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matthew 25:21,23).

 

We often hear these words spoken of stalwart followers of Christ when they pass away. They’re not reserved only for ‘super-Christians,’ but also for all who have been faithful in whatever circumstances God placed them, using the gifts and opportunities He provided for His glory.

 

However, not everyone who dies and stands before the Lord will hear words like those. Jesus warned that just because someone says the right things, that doesn’t mean he or she will be welcomed into the heavenly realm. He declared:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23).

 

How can we know for certain which phrase we’ll hear? What if being ‘religious’ and doing some good deeds isn’t enough? The Scriptures say we can definitely know what to expect. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). But exactly how can we know?

 

The Bible addresses this in many ways, but here are three of them:

Do a self-examination. “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you – unless you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). We could become hopelessly introspective, but it’s not a bad thing once in a while to ask ourselves what we truly believe – and why.

Are we living out what we claim to believe? James 1:22-25 admonishes, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks at the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” One evidence of saving faith is the desire to put it into action.

For whom are we doing what we’re doing? In performing good works, are we doing them to be commended by others, or are we doing them for God’s glory and in appreciation for all He’s done for us? “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

 

It's sobering to realize that when our earthly lives end, the first words we hear will either be along the lines of, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”, or “Depart from Me, I never knew you!” Which will we hear?

Being Faithful Stewards of What We Don’t ‘Own’

When we hear someone speaking about money – a preacher, radio ministry, or TV evangelist – many of us have the same reflexive reaction: We reach protectively for our wallets, literally or figuratively. ‘It’s my money, and don’t tell me what I’m supposed to do with it!’

However, if we believe what the Bible says, we realize it’s really not ‘my money.’ One passage in particular makes this clear: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and earth belongs to You. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of all. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12).

 

And that’s not an isolated statement. In another passage, God declares, “I have no need for a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills…. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it” (Psalm 50:10,12). As someone has said, if God needed anything, He could just sell one of the cows.

 

The Scriptures teach that rather than being owners, we’re stewards or managers of the resources the Lord entrusts to us. In one of His many parables, Jesus Christ in Matthew 25:14-30 told the story of a man preparing to take a long journey. Before leaving, he called his servants together and put his property into their care. He gave to one of them five talents of money, another two talents, and to a third he gave one talent. Perhaps based on his confidence in their management capabilities.

 

Sure enough, the first two servants invested the money and earned a substantial gain, while the third simply dug a hole and buried the single talent he’d been given. Upon returning, the master met with the servants to see how they had handled the money. The first showed he had put his five talents to work, earning five more, while the second had added two talents to what he’d been entrusted with.

 

Both were praised by the master who said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things….” Their diligence would be rewarded. The third servant, however, had only the lone talent to return to his master, who wasn’t happy. At the very least, he said, “you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.”

 

The principle behind this parable is one we can apply not only to money, but also to the skills, gifts and experience God has entrusted us with, as well as time and opportunities He sends our way. As the apostle Paul instructed followers of Jesus in ancient Corinth, “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).

 

This is the real test of how we handle ‘our money.’ Are we being faithful in how we use it, seeking to spend it wisely and not frivolously or wastefully? And also exhibiting generosity, especially when presented with needs of others that we can help to meet? 

 

It’s the giving part that many of us struggle with the most. Admittedly, with so many worthwhile causes deserving of support, it can put us into a quandary trying to determine where our contributions should go. That can be a matter of prayer, but the Scriptures tell us what’s most important is our attitude. “Each one must [give] as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). He doesn’t want us grumbling as we write checks or enter our credit card numbers.

 

But along with the importance of obedience and having a cheerful, generous spirit, there’s another motivation for our charitable giving. God promises to bless us for it.

 

In Proverbs 3:9-10 we’re instructed to, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, and the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” If we’re faithful to give as God guides, we won’t need to worry about running short in our ability to meet our own needs. The apostle Paul offered this assurance: “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

 

I remember interviewing Stanley Tam, a philanthropist known for giving much more than the 10 percent tithe that’s often debated in Christian circles. In fact, he reversed it – giving away 90 percent of his income and retaining only 10 percent. How could he do such a thing? It was easy, he explained: “I shovel it out, and God shovels it in. And the Lord has a bigger shovel.”

 

Benefits from giving shouldn’t be confined to a material perspective. The Bible doesn’t guarantee if we donate $10 that we’ll get $10 or more in return. What we can count on are blessings beyond a financial measurement. Jesus taught, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). When we give to worthy causes, the recipients aren't the only beneficiaries; we also experience the joy of being part of God’s plan to helping others.

When we get over the idea of it being ‘our money’ and recognize God is trusting us with His resources, we’re freed up from a lot of worry and can worship the One “from whom all blessings flow,” in the words of the Doxology. 

What Other People Think is Important, But Not That Important

Do you ever lose sleep wondering what other people think of you? I’m reminded of the sage who advised, “Don’t worry about what people are thinking about you – because most of the time, they’re not thinking about you at all.” (The guy was Hawaiian, so this deserves … a low-ha.)

 

Most of us do wonder what people think of us, at least to some extent. When entering a room, we’d like to make people smile, happy because we’re there, rather than see them turn the other way, or briefly glance toward us and mumble something to each other in hushed tones. We’d like people to think well of us, but how important is that? How important should it be? 

 

The Bible offers numerous examples that help in answering those questions. But one in particular comes to mind. Among the saddest statements in the entire Bible concerns Jehoram, who had succeeded his father Jehoshaphat as king of Judah, which had separated from the other tribes of Israel. First, here’s some context:

 

Of Jehoshaphat, the Scriptures tell us, “He walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:32). For the most part it seems he was an upstanding individual, as was Asa before him.

 

However, Jehoram had a very different character, choosing not to build on the righteous legacies of Asa and Jehoshaphat. Instead, “He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel…. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 21:6). He became Judah’s king at the age of 32 and reigned in Jerusalem for eight years.

 

This is where the sad part comes in. After contracting a terrible, incurable disease, Jehoram “passed away, to no one’s regret.” He was so despised, it says, he “was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20). Unlike what was customary for the rulers of Judah, Jehoram wasn’t given a final resting place with the other kings. 

 

Worst of all, he died “to no one’s regret.” If his grave had a tombstone, the inscription might have read the Hebrew equivalent of “Good riddance!”

 

Many people would agree they’d like to think that when they leave this life, they’ve made the world a better place. In the case of Jehoram, apparently the only way he could make his world a better place was simply to leave.

 

The Bible doesn’t give many other details about Jehoram’s life. We know he married a daughter of Ahab, perhaps the worst king in the history of ancient Israel. Ahab’s described as doing “more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him” (1 Kings 16:33). His daughter wasn’t a positive influence on Jehoram, that’s pretty obvious. Maybe he was more concerned about what Ahab and the daughter thought about him than what the people of Judah thought. He definitely didn’t care what God thought about him.

 

What has this to say for us today? I doubt any of us want our legacy be that we died to no one’s regret. And the Bible teaches that having a good reputation has merit, as long as it’s based on the right things:

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18).

“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor” (Proverbs 21:21).

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be known as someone whose manner of living is “like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”? Much better than being known as a dark cloud, for sure. And if living a God-honoring life results in life, prosperity and honor, that’s something we can aspire to.

 

At the same time, the acclaim and commendation of others shouldn’t be our primary goal. For many, that can become a stumbling block. One day Jesus Christ warned His disciples as well as people in a large crowd that had gathered, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way” (Luke 6:26). To the contrary, He said, “Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man” (Luke 6:22).

 

What’s most important, Jesus was saying, is not what people think of us but how we’re viewed in the eyes of God the Father. “Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:1).

 

This affirmed a principle taught in the Old Testament, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). The apostle Paul stated it another way: “…Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you” (Romans 12:3).

 

Having a good reputation and being viewed favorably by others is desirable, especially since we’re to be “Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20). As His representatives, we should exhibit honorable lives. 

Ultimately, however, we’re to be like the virtuoso pianist who performs primarily for an audience of one, his mentor -- not the adoring crowd in the concert hall. If one day we hear the words from our Lord, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21), that will mean infinitely more than all the good things people might have thought about us here. 

Revisiting the Spiritual Sponge Principle

As I’ve admitted before, I’m not a handyman in any sense of the word. Mechanical genes my grandfather passed on to my father and uncle skipped over me. I still have a considerable assortment of tools inherited from my dad, but his skills didn’t come attached to them. 

 

Even though I’m the equivalent of a craftsman with two left feet, I appreciate what tools can do. I can hammer a nail (sometimes) and turn a screwdriver when necessary, but I’m wise enough to entrust any task of greater complexity to someone who knows what they’re doing.

 

One versatile tool I’ve found very handy might not be the first that comes to mind. It’s useful for washing a car, wiping up spills, cleaning windows, removing children’s artwork from walls, and a host of other everyday tasks. You might have guessed I’m referring to the humble sponge.

Sponges come in many shapes and sizes; they’re extremely useful. That is, until they’re not. Sponges can soak up lots of liquid, but when saturated they become basically useless. Try as you will, a sponge won’t soak up another drop. But we don’t throw the sponge away, do we? No, we just squeeze the sponge’s contents into a bucket or onto the ground and voila! We’re good to go again.

 

My purpose isn’t to sing the praises of sponges. But long ago I discovered something I call “God’s spiritual sponge principle.” It’s the idea that the Lord will entrust to each of us only as much spiritual riches as we’re willing to use. If we don’t put into practice what we’ve learned, He won’t give us more. Apparently, He detests spiritual hoarders.

 

How do I know this? I believe it’s clearly taught in the Scriptures. The New Testament book of Philemon isn’t one we often hear taught on Sundays. One reason is it consists of a single chapter and only 25 verses. Despite its brevity, one of its verses encapsulates in a handful of words this spiritual sponge concept.

 

The apostle Paul writes to someone named Philemon, described as “our dear friend and fellow worker,” and several other people. In verse 6 Paul says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” This seems to indicate that as we exercise our faith – whether evangelistically with non-believers or in sharing what we’ve learned with fellow believers – we grow in our understanding of God’s truth.

 

This phrasing is from an early edition of the New International Version; other Bible versions translate this statement somewhat differently. But it seems consistent with what the Bible teaches elsewhere. 

 

For instance, writing to the Church in Philippi, Paul admonishes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to do according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). He’s telling them to work out what the Lord has already worked into them.

 

Then there’s Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, in which a wealthy man leaving on a journey entrusts property into his servants’ care. He gives them differing amounts to oversee, one five talents, another two talents, and the third one talent. Upon returning the man asks each for an accounting of how they used what he gave them to manage.

 

Servants 1 and 2 put their money to work and gained more for their master. Commending them, the rich man tells both, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things….”

 

The third, however, had simply hidden his talent, explaining, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:24-25). His master wasn't buying the excuse, however. He took the single talent from the servant and gave it to the one who had gained the most.

 

“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him,” the master declared. Then he gave the chilling command, “throw the worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 

 

Much could be unpacked from that passage, with different theological conclusions. But one thing seems clear: God gives each of us some measure of spiritual riches – gifts, talents, opportunities. He expects us to put them to use for His glory, not to hoard or hide them. 

We’re His “spiritual sponges,” and the Lord wants us to apply the biblical teachings He gives us, utilizing those principles and truths to further His kingdom and serve people He brings into our lives. We’re not called, as one preacher termed it, to “sit, soak and sour.” 

What Does a Life Worth Living Require?

When people embark on a professional career, they typically have one primary goal in sight: Success. They want to prove their skills at their chosen vocation and then be rewarded accordingly, not only financially but also with promotions, and influence. They want to make their mark and be recognized for it.

 

There comes a time in most people’s working careers, however, when a major shift occurs. The pursuit of success becomes a different quest – for significance. They want to leave a meaningful legacy after they retire or pass from this life. They’d like to feel significant, to have achieved a life worth living.

 

But what constitutes significance? Does it mean leaving a vast inheritance? Giving enough money to an institution to deserve having one’s name displayed on a building? Having an obituary that takes up two entire columns in the local newspaper?

 

I thought about this recently while attending the memorial service for a longtime friend. I met Gene when I joined the staff of CBMC (Christian Business Men’s Connection) more than 40 years ago, and he was truly one of a kind – a master of puns in the silliest sense of the word, but also a person devoted to Jesus Christ and with a passion for offering aid to the poor and disenfranchised in whatever ways possible.

 

The church where Gene’s life was celebrated wasn’t large, but it was jammed. Standing room only. Those attending represented a wide range of demographics: white, African-American, mixed race, wealthy, not wealthy at all, old and young. The one common denominator was their love for this man who is now with the Lord and their appreciation for his often-selfless service and ministry of mercy in their lives.

 

Although a musician, writer, and a noted collector of “neat stuff,” Gene never achieved what one might consider celebrity status. Few of the city’s “movers and shakers” were present for the service. And yet, hearing the moving testimonies, listening to laughter as some of his endearing quirks – including his unique sense of humor – were remembered, and seeing visible evidence of the many people whose lives he had touched in the name of Jesus Christ, I couldn’t help thinking that his was a life of true significance.

 

We become enthralled with the famous – even those who achieve fame simply for being famous. But significance doesn’t require being listed in Who’s Who, or having a lengthy bio on Wikipedia, or having a street named after you. Rather, it’s making a genuine, even life-changing difference in the lives of people with whom we have the opportunity to interact. 

 

In Gene’s case, this included being a one-man “clearing house” for impoverished individuals who came to his church seeking help. Experience had taught him the best assistance isn’t always a handout but sometimes offering a hand-up instead. And in the process, introducing many of them to the Savior who not only could save their souls but also guide them to productive, rewarding lives.

 

Proverbs 3:28 teaches, “Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ – when you already have it with you.” My friend was an expert in heeding this admonition, doing his best to serve as a soldier in the war on poverty. As he often said, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach him how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. And maybe one day, he’ll own the pond.”

 

Many of us on occasion find ourselves wondering what it will be like to take our final breath on Earth and suddenly find ourselves in the presence of the Lord. We do know what Jesus said about those who fulfill the calling God gave to them: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). I’m certain this is what Gene heard upon arrival.

 

Despite biblical assurances, it's not uncommon even for folks with implicit faith in Jesus Christ to ponder their eventual death with some trepidation. As the ole “theologian” Woody Allen once quipped, “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” But if we believe what the Scriptures teach, death in this life is simply what I like to term “stepping to the other side of eternity.” 

It’s when God our Father extends His arms to welcome us home. This explains the curious biblical assertion that, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15). 

Transforming the Mundane into the Marvelous

Several years ago, a high-ranking military officer gave a college commencement address and offered a bit of advice: “First thing you do in the morning, make your bed.”

 

With all the admonitions he could have made, this commanding officer chose “make your bed”? He explained his reasoning: In making your bed, simple as that seems, you’ve achieved something positive to start your day. No matter what transpires afterward, you can feel good about having done at least one thing worthwhile.

 

Have you ever thought about all the repetitive tasks we perform each day? Besides making the bed (if that’s your practice), we get cleaned up and dressed for the day, eat breakfast, travel to work (unless you work from home, as I do), go through the workday, return home, have the evening meal, relax a bit, and then go to bed – so we can start the cycle over again tomorrow.

 

This doesn’t even include periodic chores like mopping the floors, vacuuming the carpet, doing the dishes, washing and drying clothes, taking out the trash, mowing the yard, and so on. As someone has said, the problem with everyday living is it’s so…daily. 

 

We have highlights to keep us motivated – significant, hard-earned achievements along with pleasant surprises. But in essence, life amounts to moments of magnificence surrounded by masses of mundane stuff. However, with a slight attitude adjustment, we can transform the mundane into the marvelous.

 

How? It starts with recognizing why we do what we do, even seemingly inconsequential things. Because in the Scriptures, Christ’s followers are admonished, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him…. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:17,23-24).

 

Looking at the world around us, it’s clear that God doesn’t do shabby work. His creation is filled with wonders. As His children – and faithful servants – we should always strive to reflect His character and excellence in what we do and the way we do it. Even repetitious chores probably no one will notice.

 

But what if you knew a special guest were coming to your home – the Lord Almighty? Do you think you’d make an extra effort to spiff things up? Or if the nameplate on the desk in your boss’s office read, Jehovah God. Do you think that might affect your approach to your work, even the little things?

 

One time Jesus was speaking to His followers about the proper use of their material possessions; He also implied stewardship of whatever the Lord has entrusted to us: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). 

 

Sometimes the way we handle the ordinary and the mundane is a test to determine how well we would handle greater responsibilities and more exciting challenges. On another occasion, as recounted in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told of a man who instructed his servants to manage his property while he was away on a journey. He gave five talents of money to one servant, two talents to another, and one talent to the third – “each according to his ability.”

 

The one receiving the five talents shrewdly put the money to work, earning an additional five. The servant given two talents did much the same, gaining two more. However, the servant entrusted with only one talent buried it. He didn’t even put it in the bank to earn a bit of interest. His reasoning? He perceived his master as “a hard man…. I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.”

 

To the servants who used the money put in their trust to generate more, the master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” 

However, for the servant who did nothing with the money given other than hide it, there was no such praise. Instead, he heard, “You wicked, lazy servant!” His talent was given to the one who had managed to double his money from five to ten.

 

Jesus used this parable to explain the importance of faithful, reliable stewardship of whatever God puts into our care – money, opportunities, skills, even our time. He concluded by saying, “For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

 

Maybe making the bed seems like a very small thing. Why would that matter to God? But think again about what Jesus said: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” If we would like the Lord to trust us with big, important things to do, a good place to start would be to demonstrate we can be trusted with little, “unimportant” things. 

‘Trophies! Trophies! Get Your Trophies Here!’

Can you remember receiving a trophy for the first time? I played two years of Little League baseball, but don’t recall ever getting a trophy. I wasn’t a very good player – and my team wasn’t particularly good, either. They didn’t present trophies for mediocre.

I think my first official trophy came when I was in a Saturday morning youth bowling league. I was 13 or 14. I had bowled a high game of about 160, and with my handicap, it was the best for anyone that day. Other than that, I don’t recall winning many trophies during my pre-adult years.

These days, of course, trophies are standard equipment for any and every kids’ sport. They call them “participation trophies.” Doesn’t matter how good you are – or if you’re good at all. You get a trophy just the same; just keep breathing and showing up for the competitions. Maybe they should hand out all the trophies on the first day and get it over with: “Trophies, trophies! Get your trophies here!” It sure could save parents a lot of time and money.

I’ll not debate the pros and cons of the everybody-gets-a-trophy philosophy. But thinking about trophies, what comes to mind is how excited we feel when we receive them, and how quickly the thrill subsides. In fact, that bowling trophy I mentioned? I have no idea where it is. I suspect my mother tossed it in the trash one day while I was away at college. Something to do in her “spare” time, I suppose.

During my career, I’ve received several plaques representing recognition for a magazine I was editing or articles I wrote. But I don’t know where those are, either. If I’d won a Pulitzer Prize, a Nobel Prize, or something of similar magnitude, I probably could locate that. But I didn’t, so that’s not a “problem” for me. Even though professional or personal honors are nice, life goes on and awards eventually become relegated to the increasingly distant past.

The Bible offers a different perspective, however. It speaks in terms of “trophies” we receive not in this life, but the next. In His “sermon on the mount,” Jesus didn’t use the term trophies, but easily could have when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20). In the next verse, He explained why: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Competition was a metaphor the apostle Paul often used in writing to Jesus followers in various cities. In a letter to the church in Philippi, he stated, “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…. One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). Paul had a “trophy” in mind, but not one some human “academy” would award.

Later, addressing his protégé, Timothy, Paul again employed a sports analogy in summing his life and ministry. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). The “trophy” Paul envisioned was of far greater value and importance than any Nobel or Pulitzer, Oscar or Emmy.

These passages urge us to keep a heavenly, eternal perspective as well. Whether we’re young or old, accolades and achievements of this life will fade, often as quickly as they appeared. “Moths” and “rust” will tarnish them over time. Even being commended for serving God and His people, while gratifying, will pale in comparison to what we will see and hear when standing before our Lord at “trophy time.”

On that day, Jesus said, diligent and selfless devotion and service will be acknowledged when God tells us, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). That will be something worth cherishing in our eternal trophy case!