“Working for Your Joy” (A Study of 2 Corinthians 1:24)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now working our way through 2 Corinthians. Here’s my outline for several verses in chapter one:

“Working for Your Joy” (A Study of 2 Corinthians 1:24)

Notice the words “we work with you for your joy.” What a fascinating statement. Joy is WORK! And sometimes we need others to assist us in achieving that joy. The Darby translation renders this verse as “Not that we rule over your faith, but are fellow-workmen of your joy . . .” Fellow-workmen. We can join others and labor for their joy.

The Living Bible has the following translation: “I want to be able to do something about your joy: I want to make you happy, not sad.” Joy is deeper than happiness, isn’t it? Happiness often depends on happenings. Joy is much more solid, grounded, resistant to the joy-killers that surround us. [I’m working on a short book on the uses of “joy” in Philippians tentatively called “Finding Deep Joy in a Sad, Shallow World”].

Please note Paul’s justification for his laboring for the joy of the Corinthians: “because it is by faith you stand firm.” When we waffle in our faith, when we collapse under the attacks of the world around us and the doubts within us, we lose our joy. But God wants His people — you and me! — to stand firm, to lean on our trust in Christ, to be people of contagious joy!

Today’s Challenge: Got anybody who is working for your joy? Are you laboring to help others re-discover and re-deploy their joy in knowing Christ? It’s time to get to work — and do so joyfully!

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Attitude)

Grabbing life by the throat and living on one’s own terms — That’s takes a lot of cash, doesn’t it?! In the Bible work is described as honorable. And the one who will not work — should not eat (2 Thes. 3:10)!

Work was not a result of the fall in the Garden — weary work was. Let’s work hard today — for the Lord! And let’s do it with “attitude”!

 

The Theology of Calvin . . . and Hobbes (Life Too Inconvenient)

We were never created to have everything handed to us. Work was not a result of the fall in Genesis 3, but weary work. We were made in God’s image to be creative and to work hard at caring for His creation. Yes, life can be “inconvenient,” but biblical Christianity provides the strongest foundation for living a productive, God-honoring existence!

 

Opposition! (A Study of I Corinthians 16:8-9)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now finishing the book of I Corinthians. We started reading I Corinthians 15 on Easter Sunday! As we conclude I Corinthians, I want to post several outlines on the last chapter, chapter 16.

Opposition! (A Study of I Corinthians 16:8-9)

I.  Opposition to Us and the Gospel Should Not Surprise Us!

II. Opposition to Us and the Gospel Should Not Stop Us!

    >>> “a great door for effective work has opened to me”

III. Opposition to Us and the Gospel Should Not Isolate Us!

Today’s Challenge: Don’t let opposition surprise, stop, or isolate you from those who are also seeking to do the work! Trust God to encourage your heart as you labor for Him!

 

Work! (A Study of I Corinthians 16)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now in the book of I Corinthians. And we just started reading I Corinthians 15 on Easter Sunday! We are now concluding I Corinthians and I want to post a few outlines on the last chapter, chapter 16.

There may be a few of you who remember Maynard G. Krebbs from the “Dobie Gillis” show. He was a hippie kind of guy and whenever he heard the word “work” he would respond in great shock and terror “WORK?!”

Work! (A Study of I Corinthians 16)

In this chapter we have three references to the Christian’s work. Notice if you will —

I.  God Opens Doors for Effective Work (v. 9)

II. We Should Honor Those Who Carry on the Work of the Lord (v. 10)

III. Mutual Submission Should Mark Our Conduct with Others Who Join in the Work and Labor at It (v. 16)

Today’s Challenge: Who are those who are working hard for the Lord? Pray that God would give them — and yourself — open doors for effective work. Let those workers know of your respect for them and the work they do. And look for ways you can encourage and cooperate with their labor!

 

Not in Vain! (I Cor. 15:58)

Friends: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that my friend Frank (in New Jersey) and I have been doing an email Bible study for over a year. We read the same chapter every day for a week — and then send a brief email of encouragement to each other. We’ve completed most of the epistles of the New Testament — and it’s been a great discipline for both of us.

We’re now in the book of I Corinthians. And we just started reading I Corinthians 15 on Easter Sunday! I want to occasionally post an outline of what I’m learning from my reading. Here’s my outline from I Corinthians 15:58:

Not in Vain! (I Cor. 15:58)

How good to know that because Christ has risen from the dead, and because He has conquered death, and because He will give us new resurrection bodies — our work now is not in vain!

Our Worthwhile Work —

I.   Assumes we’re part of God’s family (“my dear brothers and sisters”)
II.  Requires us to stand firm
III. Challenges us to let nothing move us
IV. Expects us to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord

Because we know that our labor in the Lord is not in vain!

 

Time for a Provocative Commercial: “Daddy, What’s it like to work?”

What a negative commercial! Aren’t you glad that working for the Lord can be quite different?

 

Getting Some Work Done!

As some of you know, I’ve been retired from teaching full-time for two years. The Lord has been so gracious to me to keep me busy and, hopefully, useful to Him! I’ve enjoyed teaching overseas (Korea, Myanmar) and right now am working hard on two manuscript projects. I appreciate the believers in New Jersey who invite me to speak every few months. And I’m thankful for you, my friend, for reading my posts. If you feel so inclined, a comment below would be an encouragement to me. Have a great day!

 

What Did Jesus Pray About? (Part 3)

We are examining Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17 over the next few posts, asking what prayer meant to Him. Let’s continue our thinking on the first few verses.  We saw that prayer prepared the Lord Jesus for His “hour.”

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus then focuses on the issue of glory.  He asks that the Father “glorify” the Son.  There is a mutual glorifying that Jesus desires.  He states that He had brought the Father glory on earth by finishing the work the Father gave Him to do.  But, wait.  The work of atonement was just beginning, right?

What was the work the Father gave Him to do that He says He had “finished”?  He had lived out the perfect human life, resisting the temptations of the Evil One, and revealing the Father to His disciples.  He had faithfully taught the truth, healed the sick, and even raised the dead.  These “works” were important, but were signs leading up to His great work, giving Himself for the sins of the world.

We are to be like our Lord.  We are to “finish” the work He has given us to do.  What work has He assigned to you?  Of course, there is always more work to do.  But take the time in prayer and thank the Lord for the work He has empowered you to finish.  (to be continued)

 

Time for a Great Cartoon! (Work)

Back in the 1950’s when I was a wee lad, I watched a TV show called “Dobie Gillis.” It was an innocent show about a young man’s life and his awkward attempts at romance.

One of Dobie’s friends was named Maynard G. Krebs. Here’s a picture of Maynard:
Maynard hated work. In fact, whenever the word “work” was used, he would respond “WORK!?”
That’s, unfortunately, how many view work today. But we were created to work (see Genesis 1-3). Work is not a result of the fall of man — weary work is!

Your comments?