being righteous, living righteously

Is there a difference between being righteous (our legal status before God) and living righteously i.e. our daily conduct? 

Even though God grants us total righteousness (perfect legal standing) before Him in Christ, he still desires us to ¹live righteously. 

It is only through ¹righteous living we are most aligned and in tune with God ⁵practically. We love others as we are designed to, and best put Him on display - i.e. honor and glorify Him - through loving actions toward others. But these actions do not save us. 

He designed us to be aligned with his will in our everyday conduct, so we might 

1. experience more of Him and His love and 

2. best honor and glorify Him before others. 

3. Advance His ⁵kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

These are the desired outcomes of the good standing He has fully secured for us and assigned to us in Christ. 

God grants us right legal standing, so we might live right. We don't live right to enhance our legal standing with Him (this has already been perfectly settled in and by Christ), but so we might partake of Him more fully in our everyday lives. 

He wants us to live righteously so that we might more fully partake of and participate in His love, life, and joy, and pass it on to others more effectively. This brings more attention (honor) to Him, so others might be drawn to Him through us and thereby also find in Him fullness of life by means of our righteous conduct. This advances and establishes His righteous ⁵reign on earth.

The idea of being made right so we would live right is expressed in several places in scripture, but most often and clearly in Paul's letter to the Romans.

‭‭Romans 6:4 ESV‬‬

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

‭‭Romans 7:4 ESV‬‬

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (i.e. we are perfectly right with God in Christ). For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us..." - Rom ‭8:1‭-‬5‬

Each of the above 3 passages shows that the desired outcome of God making us right with Him (i.e., righteous before Him legally) is that we might live righteously. 

In fact, in several of Paul's letters (Ephesians, Colossians, ³Hebrews and Romans) the first part of these letters lays out what God has done for us regarding our unrighteous status - i.e. He has made us righteous in and through Christ.  The remaining part of each letter addresses how we are to conduct our lives in light of this and in response to it.

This is clearest in the entire book of Romans, where the first 11 chapters elaborate on our alienation from God and what He has done to restore us in Christ - i.e., the explanation of the good news (gospel). Then, from chapter 12 on, it shifts to how we conduct ourselves in light of this good news. 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, (i.e. in light of what I have said up to this point regarding our dilemma and God's solution) to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Rom 12:1

The ending phrase "spiritual worship" indicates this is a heartfelt response, not a rigid duty or legal requirement. A response to what? To God providing the righteousness, we must have to be in good standing with the Father, by assigning Christ's perfect standing with the Father to us.

Did only Paul address this? No, Peter, James, and John did as well.

"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness i.e. in our everyday conduct..." - 1 Pet 2:23-24

This connection by multiple writers isn't a coincidence. Righteous living must always flow out of our righteous standing with God (because we could never meet the requirements of living a perfectly righteous life unaided) i.e., righteous living will and must always flow out of a righteous standing before God. If it does not - if there is no fruit of righteous living - the scriptures call us to make sure we are truly His child. This is clearly implied and stated explicitly in the above and other passages. So much so that scripture tells us if how we live has not changed since we came to Christ, we need to be sure we truly know Him. 

For a further discussion on being right vs living right click here 

What is the good news? click here

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Footnotes: 

¹What exactly is righteous living or living righteously? When our conduct is perfectly aligned with God's ⁴design and will.

And what is God's design (will) for us and all creation? That in everything we do and say we honor and glorify him. And in doing so, we also experience our greatest significance - glory. 

And how do we best honor and glorify him? By loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbors as ourselves. Love (i.e. relationship) is the driving force of righteous conduct. Carrying out these commandments or living righteously - i.e. treating others as we wish to be treated - is the result. 

God's love for us is first, and our responding back to him in love is the result. We will not value or love God above all others until we grasp and experience his value of or love for us. 

God is the initiator and source of love. If we are not plugged into Him and thereby drawing strength from Him, we can never be loving as we were designed to be. When we see and experience his love, we "light up," come to life, bear fruit, and become the true bearers of His image as we were created to be.  

God is the power supply, we are the conduits. He is the treasure, we are jars of clay. He is the vine, we are the branches.

Which comes first, our valuing and loving Him or Him valuing and loving us? We love him because he first loved us.

³There is good reason to believe Paul dictated the book of Hebrews to Luke, who wrote it. The way the letter flows and unfolds - the thorough knowledge of the OT - is characteristic of other letters by Paul (a well-studied Jewish Pharisee), not someone who is a Greek Gentile such as Luke. 

But the style and elegance of the Greek used in the book is indicative of Luke also seen in Acts and Lukes gospel. So some suggest Hebrews was a collaboration between Paul and Luke. 

There are other reasons some believe Paul dictated it. Primarily because, as far as we know, all but one of Paul's letters (including Hebrews) was dictated. Possibly because of poor eyesight from his being blinded by beholding Christ on the road to Damascus.

Also Luke was a highly educated Greek national and medical doctor, fluent in "high" Greek. 

Hebrews was written with grammatical precision, using several words unique to the book of Hebrews. This was uncharacteristic of Paul's other letters but similar to the gospel of Luke. For these reasons, some think Paul didn't write it but dictated it to Luke. Explaining why it has characteristics of both Paul and Luke. The fact that he considered himself the apostle to the Gentile adds even more credibility to this view. 

It is also believed Paul deliberately did not identify as the author since he was considered the apostle to the Gentiles and not looked upon favorably by the Judaizers from Jewish circles within the church. 

Some suggest Paul deliberately left his name off to avoid any resistance to the letters' reception and wide circulation within the Jewish community at large. After all, why would the apostle to the Gentiles be writing a letter to Hebrews?  

But Paul's love for his own people was clearly expressed in Romans chapter 9. Knowing this, it would make perfect sense that he still had an intense desire to reach his people even though God had called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. 

⁴this is given either as a direct order in writing, verbally, and by Christ's example - all of which are recorded in scripture.

⁵and advance His kingdom most. Our actions matter, either advancing or hindering God's kingdom. 

legitimate vs illegitimate business

What distinguishes a legitimate enterprise or business from an illegitimate one? 

Being ¹service driven vs. solely profit-driven.

There is nothing wrong with profit in itself, but when profit becomes the ²sole motive, serving others becomes irrelevant or secondary at best and usually leads to ⁴harming others. This is a disservice and the opposite of serving others.

When an enterprise is focused on ²serving others we are loving our neighbors and helping them flourish. The result is that the "consumer" ²benefits. 

We are dependent on certain things to not only survive but to flourish to our maximum capacity. To provide those things to honor of God and for the benefit of our fellow man or woman is to serve both God and humankind.

If we are diligent in serving others, it often results in our economic benefit as well, i.e. profit. We "win" by helping others "win." But serving others is and should always be our focus, regardless. 

As believers, this is carrying out the commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves i.e. treating others the way we would like to be treated. If we gain (profit) in this exercise, this is a good thing, not bad i.e. it is not exploiting our fellow man or the planet, as ⁵some assert, but the possible (though not automatic) fruit of serving them.  

The most successful enterprises are those that find a ¹legitimate ³need of others and meet it better than anyone else. The greater the need, the greater the service provided. The greater the service, the greater the opportunity for profit if we are diligent. 

For a discussion on sowing and reaping click here. 

For a discussion on socialism vs capitalism click here. 

For a discussion on doing things with excellence click here. 

For a discussion on whether the pursuit of money is ever legit click here.

For a discussion on what exactly money is click here. 

For a discussion on cryptocurrency, click here. 

For a discussion on giving as we have received, click here

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Footnotes:

¹The nature of the need is also vital in determining the legitimacy of the enterprise or service e.g. providing healthy food vs junk food is a legitimate endeavor. Providing a want such as junk food (or pornography, or abortions etc) simply because there is a demand for it is not. There may be large profits in these kinds of offers, but if an offer is contrary to God's design it is ultimately destructive and a disservice to others and humanity at large regardless of how great the demand or profit.

²Even when profit becomes the primary motive, serving others becomes secondary, which also ultimately leads to people's ⁴harm and the opposite of serving others.

Serving others is good for both the provider and the consumer. This is a "win-win" scenario. 

³We must distinguish between needs and wants. Needs are vital to our existence and flourishing. Wants, no matter how great, are merely what we desire but will not result in our perishing if we can't acquire them i.e. they are not essential to our existence but may only be for greater convenience and comfort versus greater fruitfulness i.e. productivity. 

We are called to be productive (fruitful). Anything that enables us to do so is legitimate. Helping others be more efficient so they have more time to be more productive is a legitimate endeavor. 

This is our initial mandate in the Old Testament:

‭‭Genesis 1:28-30 

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 

This is repeated in the New Testament: 

‭‭John 15:5...

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing... 

 

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples...

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, - regarding advancing God's rule (kingdom) of love - he may give it to you. 

⁴Such as using corn syrup in foods as a sweetener because it is cheaper and adds more to the bottom line even though it's harmful to us.

⁵Ayn Rand asserted capitalism and altruism are opposites and do not mix i.e. in a true free market system we can not benefit (win) by helping others benefit (win). 

Click here for a 2-minute video of her explaining worldview. 

However, as an atheist, she didn't understand the dynamic of being empowered to love others when we know we are fully loved. 

She interpreted altruism as a giving away of our dignity - or others taking it from us - and not an expression of the dignity we derive from God, the eternal overflowing fountain of love. She saw altruism only as others taking from us by force vs our freely, gladly, and willingly giving to others out of our fullness of receiving all things from our Creator. A subtle but vital distinction. 

This distinguishes God's Kingdom from communism. This also reveals how the progressive side of the church is unwittingly sympathetic to communism, which is vastly different from advancing God's kingdom by loving our neighbor. 

Givers vs takers

For a discussion on how we are designed to be givers and not takers click here.

When service is our primary focus - but profit is also desired

(though not primary) - this puts innovation front and center. It causes us to continually look for creative ways to meet the unmet needs of our fellow humans and how to also generate the necessary funding to continue to do so. 

Often, but not always, the copycats of legitimate and successful innovation are driven purely by profit, not necessarily how to better serve humanity. 

Healing trauma

There is a great deal of focus by ⁷some on trauma and past wounds. They either focus on their family of origin or some past personal traumatic event, or both. As a result, many are on a never-ending quest to uncover forgotten or hidden wounds in the hope - false, I would suggest - that this will somehow unlock them from their prison of internal pain, restlessness, loneliness, and meaninglessness. 

If the sought-after relief is not found by uncovering conventional wounds, some even explore ¹generational trauma passed down through their ancestors, which they have no immediate connection to.

While these exercises may be helpful and have ⁵significant value, they miss the more fundamental and deeper issue. All such wounds are ²secondary and can only take root in our hearts because of a far more significant ³primary trauma or wound we ⁴all have. 

To work through and be freed from secondary wounds, we shouldn't focus exclusively on them but must first address the highly critical and life-altering primary wound we ⁴all have in common.

Because of this primary wound, we all are emotionally fragile at best, resulting in even the ⁵slightest offense - i.e. secondary wounds - throwing us into "trauma" and seemingly scarring us irreparably.

Instead of focusing on our secondary wounds, we should focus on the perfect healing offered to us for our primary wound.

Why?

Until we experience healing of our primary wound, we will never be truly freed from any secondary wounds. 

As our primary wound heals - via an increasing grasp of the good news (the gospel) - the more we are freed to fully acknowledge our secondary wounds and be released from them. And the more resilient and impervious we become to all new wounds. 

Simply stated, the more whole we become, the less these secondary wounds impact or control us.

So what exactly is this primary wound? 

It is the severing of our connection with and alienation from our Creator, the Source of love, life, and all things. 

However, this wound is different. It is due to our turning away from God in distrust (unbelief), i.e., this wound is self-inflicted, i.e., one we choose. We are not the victim of this wound but the cause - perpetrators... every one of us, no exceptions. If there is a "victim," it is God Himself (objectively speaking. God doesn't need us; we need him. Nor can He be diminished by us and our choices.)

Unlike secondary wounds that are only experienced by some - such as sexual, emotional, or physical abuse - our primary wound is experienced by each and every one of us from the outset of the human race, beginning at the rebellion of our original parents (our original ancestors if you prefer) in the garden of Eden and continued by us in refusing to trust all God has done (and does) for us, to free us of our primary wound, in and through Christ.

The significance of this trauma is far greater than most of us know, much less understand. It results in us cutting ourselves off from God, the very Source of life and love. 

How can this not be traumatic? It is so traumatic that it has plunged the entire human race and all creation itself into ⁶all the pain, suffering, and death we daily hear, see, or experience to this day. It is the underlying reason behind all pain and suffering in the world, as well as our individual secondary wounds. 

This primary wound is so significant that secondary wounds will increasingly shape and cripple us less as our primary wound begins and continues to heal.

This primary wound is ⁴common to everyone of us, unlike secondary wounds, which may be similar but also unique to each of us. 

Why does this matter, and how is it different from secondary wounds? We all are in the "same boat" regarding this primary trauma and can therefore appreciate a common healing for all who receive and experience it. 

The state of humanity in all its ⁷loneliness, pain, and destructiveness in itself is evidence enough that humanity at large is disconnected and deeply wounded and in pain i.e. traumatized. Among other things, this results in all other trauma (secondary wounds) taking root and crippling us if not properly addressed.

This does not minimize secondary wounds but helps us to better understand them and not see ourselves as victims or feel isolated from the rest of humanity, who may not have gone through the same secondary trauma we have.

What is the solution to our primary wound? Christ!  Seeing and trusting in all Christ did (all the pain he took upon Himself caused by our turning away from God) to restore us to His Father and our Creator. He did this so we might ultimately be fully healed of our primary wound and free of all pain in eternity. 

It's not just what God says but what he did.

The saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words." God says He loves us, but He did far more than just say it; he proved it in and through the actions and sacrifice of Christ to restore us. 

Because of Christ, not only is the healing of our primary internal wound offered (i.e. restoration to God from our alienation with the very Source of life and love) but we are promised God's perfect ongoing providential love and care is also ours regardless of our past or present circumstances (all otherwise potentially traumatic events), as well as the eventual and total delivery from the very presence of all pain and suffering when we are fully restored through our resurrection into complete union with the Source of life, love, and all things.

Nothing will ever separate us from God's love again once we receive the spiritual and emotional healing offered to us in Christ. This love is perfectly ours right now if we receive it, and the fundamental truth we all must internalize if we are to be freed from past wounds, both primary and secondary. The more we see, grasp, and internalize (believe) this reality, the freer we become of all secondary wounds.

For a discussion on being an offender as well as offended click here.

For a discussion on how God loves the offender and offended click here.

For a discussion on being a victim vs "playing the victim," click here.

For a discussion on why our kids rebel click here.

For a discussion on how we have God's love perfectly but not yet fully, click here. 

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Footnotes:

¹You even see this within some church circles - mostly within the more charismatic and fundamentalist circles. 

They cite Deut 5:9 as a support text. But in the context, this has more to do with the outward consequences of placing a higher value on something other than God. Our kids will mirror our values (how we live our life vs how we say it should be lived) through several generations. 

This passage isn't specifically addressing internal trauma but destructive external behavior that our kids pick up through our example (often unbeknownst to us). 

²What are the effects or results of our primary wound? There is a subtle but constant undercurrent in our lives of feeling inadequate,  insignificant, unimportant, abandoned, rejected, or the like. We believe we no longer matter to the Creator. In short, we no longer feel or believe our Creator cares and loves us, but is only angry and disappointed in us. If we were raised in a loving and stable family, this is less obvious but still exists just the same. If we are raised in a home that emphasized external conformity to certain kinds of behavior, our sense of failure and insignificance might be exaggerated.

Yet He who is the very Source and Cause of life, love, and all things, sent His Son to restore us back to Himself when we were in full-blown rebellion to Him. This clearly indicates otherwise i.e. that we are not insignificant but just the opposite. 

Our sense of abandonment is not because God abandoned us but we abandon Him. 

³What is the effects or results of our secondary wounds? Any event brought about by hurtful interaction with creation - be that at the hand of other image bearers of God or with nature (creation) in general - which causes us to feel insignificant, unimportant, abandoned, rejected… i.e. we don't matter. In short we no longer feel or believe we are loved because of actions by those secondary sources of love who wound us.

⁴Knowing this is a common problem and struggle helps keep us from having a "pity party" (at the center of a victim mindset) and developing a martyr's complex - e.g. we might say to ourselves or others, "You just don't understand! No one has experienced the pain I have..." But they have. In fact, everyone has to some degree, but most importantly, especially Christ Himself. No one has or ever suffered as a true victim as Christ did...and that for our sake.

It also helps create unity among God's children as we work together and encourage each other in addressing this common problem - as well as the solution - of alienation from God and restoration through Christ. This is in fact the primary unifying force within the church universal - which can be greater than our cultural differences if we receive it - and an essential element of the good news of God's offer of full restoration i.e. the "gospel."

⁵Slight only compared to our primary wound of separation from our Creator. A separation from the very source of life, love, and all things. Secondary wounds are very real and some are devastating but still minor in comparison to separation from God and what Christ endured for us.

 ⁶We and the rest of creation have been deeply harmed and crippled and are only a fraction of our original design. It took the eternal Son of God taking on Human form and stepping into this world of pain and suffered, which was the result of our turning away from our Creator, and letting it kill him, to free us one day.

⁷This seems more common among those who are under 45. But even those among us who experience the best circumstances and most stable upbringings experience these things. Something major is still missing - we all long for more because we were created for far more...i.e. the full acceptance, embrace, and union with the very Source of life, love and all things in our state of distrust... Only possible because of Christ's efforts on our behalf.

⁸No doubt, the fracturing of the family unit and the increase in broken homes since the early 60s has contributed to this trend.

Sowing and reaping

In the parable of the sower, Christ addresses the different results of those hearing the good news of God's kingdom. The question this article seeks to address is whether advancing the kingdom occurs only by ¹sharing  the good news verbally? Can the kingdom of God be advanced by other means such as our deeds (work/job/money/ business) as well as our words? If so how?

2 Cor 9:6-11 talks about a financial gift the church in Corinth had promised to the church in Jerusalem. Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers to follow through with this gift in a way that honors God and why they should give it. The sowing and reaping Paul is addressing here is clearly about money, how we obtain it, use it, and increase it.

So what does money have to do with advancing the gospel of the kingdom? We usually don't think of advancing the gospel financially. After all the gospel is spiritual in nature, not material... or is it? We usually think the pursuit of money is in conflict with and contrary to advancing God's kingdom; that the kingdom advances through our poverty, (e.g. blessed are the poor...Lk 6:20) not through wealth. 

Can we make money, use money, do business, and advance the gospel of the kingdom for the glory of God with money? If so, how?

2 Cor 9:6-11 captures the essence of how to use material resources to love others and advance God's purposes, kingdom, and glory.

In general terms, it always takes resources to advance any endeavor. Be that our time, talents, skills, money, or other resources. God's kingdom is no exception. His kingdom may be spiritual in nature but it still involves advancement in this physical or material world. Simply because God's kingdom, in essence, is spiritual does not make money somehow unnecessary (as if God will sustain His purposes in this material/physical world without physical resources or that the fruit of financial profit or material gain from our efforts are somehow not dignified enough to advance God's purposes). 

In short, God's kingdom may not be of this world but it certainly must advance in and on it. Therefore we must utilize the resources of creation - whether this involves the use of our personal or internal gifts (i.e. skills, talents, experience etc.), or external gifts such as money, time, and material resources - to obtain what is necessary to advance God's purposes in this world as well as the next. Laying up for ourselves treasures in heaven still requires obtaining and having treasures in this world that we can lay up.

And of course, it takes a job or a business or investments to make money. It always has and always will. As the saying goes money does not grow on trees. 

If you are following the series "The Chosen" note how it illustrates the necessity of making money to support Jesus and His disciples. Zebedee, the father of the disciples James and John started an olive oil business just for this reason.

Money in itself is also neither good nor bad no more than any resource or gift God gives us. How and why we make it and use it determines this.

So what are the key principles to advancing God's kingdom through business/work and money?

We find 3 in 2 Cor 9:6-11

"The point is this: 

(principle ¹) - whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." 

(principle ²) - "Each one must give (not only our money but our time, energy, talents, and the necessary resources to generate more money) as he has decided in his heart" (he must decide beforehand how much he's willing to give/give up/sacrifice before he starts sowing and watering), 

(principle ³) - "not reluctantly (unwillingly) or under compulsion (forced), for God loves a cheerful giver..." (whatever you do, do it out of love - cheerfully - for God and your fellow man...Not to win the acceptance or praise of others).

These 3 principles above can be summarized as follows:

1. Great results ⁴require great effort and great effort for God's honor always produces great results now and in eternity. This is foundational to the overall principle of sowing and reaping.

2. Decide beforehand that you are willing to do ²whatever it takes to accomplish the task/mission God has given you. Be deliberate, not haphazard, in your effort and approach. We must approach every worthwhile, God given endeavor with a  "do-or-die" attitude if we are to obtain whatever God calls us to. Just because God calls you to a task does not mean it will be easy or not require great effort. 

Nothing worth pursuing will be easy. We are told we will encounter thorns and thistles in our labor. Don't be surprised by roadblocks or setbacks, expect them. Resistance is not necessarily an indication God is not in a certain endeavor i.e. that He disapproves of it because of set backs or challenges. It may simply be that in this world we will have tribulation. All endeavors worth pursuing require great effort. 

3. To go about any endeavor willingly and cheerfully we must be moved by love for God and others vs. the approval of others or merely personal gain.

Verse 8 goes on to say,

"And God is able to make ³all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

This verse is not necessarily talking about the outcome but the strength necessary to pursue the task God has put before us i.e. strength needed to complete the task comes from God, not us.  

It is also worth noting that the sufficiency of grace is also mentioned when Paul asked God to remove a thorn in his flesh i.e. grace is how God empowers us whether that involves enduring a thorn in the flesh or accomplishing the work He has given us to do. Grace is required for both.

Work or good deeds can take many forms. One of those is generating extra resources i.e. money (profits) to put towards another endeavor that honors God. But we must also never forget it is God who works in us both the will and desire to do so.

"...it is God who works in you both the will and do of his good pleasure..." Phil 2:12

10 "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."
2 Cor 9:6‭-‬8‭, ‬10‭-‬11 ESV

"... He who supplies seed ..."  He not only empowers us to sow and water but provides the seed to sow.

"...You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way..."

I once heard a Christian entrepreneur and millionaire say it this way. The world looks at money and says, "get all you can so you can keep all you can, then sit on the can, and protect your can. Don't let anyone get into your can." God however says, "get all you can so you can give all you can." Both focus on acquiring and achieving as much as possible but for totally different ends.  

God blesses us not so we can indulge in those blessings for our personal consumption only but primarily so we'll have more to bless others with. This gives us additional resources to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, thereby advancing God's Kingdom and purposes on earth i.e. "your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." The more we can obtain in this life the more resources and opportunity we have to love others in ways we would not have without them. Loving our neighbors is no less than living out the second-greatest commandment. It is what God calls us to do.

"...will produce thanksgiving to God..." 

Our diligent faithfulness to the ventures or tasks God has given and entrusted to us (i.e. our job, work, investments, or business and the gifts and abilities to perform them) will point others to God either by doing things cheerfully with excellence but also by acquiring extra resources to support the advancement of His kingdom through blessing others physically i.e. materially or financially. This ultimately leads to God's honor and praise.

This passage suggests our work is a primary means by which we advance the gospel of God's kingdom, thereby bringing glory to God and joy in God by others, resulting in our own joy.

Conclusions and application

Clearly, 2 Cor 9:6-11 indicates there is a direct correlation between sowing and reaping. The more we sow the more we reap...the less we sow the less we reap. It's not just common sense but ⁴a principle of life and nature. 

Sowing and repeating isn't just about negative consequences for sowing bad seed but also a great harvest for sowing good seed. The more the better.

To say it a different way, to see more results you must do more, pray more, give more effort, time, resources, etc. Though God in his grace and mercy may and sometimes does intervene directly to address needs despite our efforts, normally he works with, in, through, and by them. He engages us, His kids, to carry out His purposes on earth as He does in heaven. Paul himself continued utilizing his tent-making skills even when planting churches.

Related passages:

2 Corinthians 3:5

5  "What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? 

They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6  I planted the seed (of truth) and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow." - 1 Cor 3:5-6

Even though God must grow or "give the increase" to our efforts - he does so according to our sowing and watering. Something (seed) must be planted and watered by ²us for it to be multiplied by God. (We will look at what "it" is further into the passage).

Sowing and reaping applies to not only the amount we sow but also the kind of seed (gifts) we are given to contribute to the harvest. Paul's planting was different than Apollos watering. Both were needed and used to bring about a harvest. Whatever gift and task God has given, each is unique to us. It is that gift we should use, not something we don't have. To say it another way, don't try to be someone or something you aren't created or called to be i.e. someone God has not gifted you to be.

A story goes that one day a farmer who had recently become a believer was out plowing in the field when he saw the letters "PC" in the clouds. He thought this must surely mean God was calling him to preach Christ (PC). After a year in seminary, he found himself struggling financially, with grades and generally struggling to keep up with the class load. He went to the dean of students to discuss this and after a few minutes the dean said, "I think God was telling you to plant corn (PC)." The moral of the story? If God has called you to be a significant financial means of supporting the church, He will also gift you in business or with investments to make a significant amount of money. 

And as we prove ourselves trustworthy by being faithful to what God has already given, He gives us more.

7 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow..." 1 Cor 3:7

...is anything... He's not saying we are nothing or have no role in the process but that we are not ultimately the reason for the results, God is. When done well, God will praise and reward us. The following context supports this.

"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God." 2 Cor 3:5

God and I working together.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, (you) work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Phil 2:12‭-‬13 ESV

How do we and God work to accomplish things at the same time? It is not a "both/and" relationship but an "in/through" one. It is God who gives us the desire, will, strength, and ability to work the work and it is our arms, legs, minds, etc (i.e. us) being empowered. He provides the strength but we are still the ones doing the sweating, not God.

Col 1:29
"For this I toil, ⁶struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me."

...struggling... God is the one empowering us but this does not exclude our sweat, persistence, and perseverance. He enables us to sweat and persist by and through His grace and love to us and out to others. To use an analogy we are the sale boat but He is the wind.

Even though 2 Cor 9 is talking about people giving financial/ material resources; in principle, it would hold true in giving any resources, be that time, energy, abilities, material possessions money, etc. Money is only the fruit of using our other gifts/resources to acquire it. 

Financial and material resources come through hard work. Sharing the good news is not by our words only. In fact, our good and excellent deeds give greater credibility to our words. An old saying is I don't care about what you know (and say) until I know that you care. A primary way we show care is by blessing others with our time, and attention and that is often with or through the material blessings God has given us.

"And God is able to make ³all grace abound to you so that (you) having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." - 2 Cor 9:‬8

It is not a question of whether work - a job, investment, or business - can be a means of ministry but whether it is a good effort we are engaged in i e. It's not what we do that is most important by why we do it. What determines a good work versus a bad work is not just what we do but the goal of our efforts i.e. are we seeking to advance our purposes or God's. If God's, then whatever we do, do it with everything we've got for His glory.

i.e. ...⁶struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." Col 1:29

The other implication is this takes sacrifice. We have to give up something we could use elsewhere - such as money or time - wherever God directs us to get a return (increase) on whatever God has called us to. We should know this going in and decide how much we're willing to give up in order to gain the outcome we hope for and believe God desires and has called us to.

The good news is if and when we are giving (working, sacrificing) for the right reason - i.e. using all the resources He's given us to advance His kingdom for His glory, not ours - He will not only bless those efforts (and multiply our resources to do even more to honor Him and bless others) but also empower us to do what we have been given to do and are committed to doing. This is His promise, no ifs, ands, or butts. 

When we do all things (especially our business or job) for God's honor out of love for others we can do it without reservation or doubt we are doing a good thing.

We also must be clear that we do not sow and water in and by our own strength. 

And when we experience good results, it is only because of His hand of blessing i.e. for this to happen, we must be and are empowered by God's Spirit/Love i.e. ultimately the results are because of Him; because of the strength and energy He gives us to complete the task and Him clearing the path or opening doors to bring it about.

God is engaged in every part of the process. He provides the seed. His Spirit is the power that gives us the will to work and drives us within, as well as multiplies our efforts without.

And we are engaged in every part of the process. It is ⁴our gifts, abilities, resources, efforts, hands, feet, bodies, and minds that are required in the sowing and watering and also our prayers that are necessary in asking God to give the increase. We are fully engaged in every phase.

Every endeavor (work) God gives us i.e. calls us to, we are engaged in is a partnership with God for His glory as well as our joy. This results in the thanks of others which also brings joy and honor to God and to us.

For a discussion on the fallacy of the health and wealth gospel, click here.

For a discussion on giving as we have received, click here.

For a discussion on the importance of discipline and diligence, click here

For a discussion on the importance of excellence, click here.

For a discussion on legitimate vs illegitimate business, click here 

For a discussion on resting in God, click here

For a discussion on whether competition is good or bad, click here

For a further discussion on being diligent, click here

For a discussion on what is more important, great effort or great faith, click here

For a discussion of what exactly is money/currency click here.

For a discussion on how faith is hard work, click here.

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¹Is sharing the good news limited exclusively to speaking about what Christ did for us? No. When we understand the gospel, it permeates, shapes, and drives every aspect of our lives and actions as well as our words. It entails not only what we do but why we do it. This includes our regular day-to-day job, business, or any venture and how we go about them.

²Exerting whatever effort is required - sowing and watering - takes time and effort; time away from other things that may be more immediately gratifying. 

Sacrifice and self-denial do not necessarily involve a huge loss but simply setting aside legitimate but inferior desires for more productive God-honoring goals e.g. Instead of checking your email or the latest news, it may be more fruitful to spend some time reaching out to someone (family, friend, business partner) that could use some of God's love and attention - through you.

³grace -  The fuel that energizes our abounding is God's love - which is ours only by grace, not because of our faithfulness (obedience) or productivity.  Faithfulness does not cause grace but is the means by which grace is released. Our experience of God's love is tied to our faithfulness. 

⁴This principle is so certain that even if we sow for the wrong reason - i.e. for our honor and gain not God's - if done diligently and without giving up we will eventually get results. It is how things are designed to operate regardless of our motives. However, when done for God's honor, we are promised God's support and His wind (breath/Spirit) at our backs. Otherwise it could - and likely will - eventually result in burnout. 

⁵By saying these are ours, we must recognize and acknowledge all we are and have is given, loaned to us, and sustained by God to advance his purposes. Nothing that is, would be if not for God, including all the gifts we are given and skills we acquire.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good (not just bad), for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:7‭-‬10 

⁶Col 1:29 

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

To or for-

Εἰς (Eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

this end-

ὃ (ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

I labor,-

κοπιῶ (kopiō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2872: From a derivative of kopos; to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard.

striving-

ἀγωνιζόμενος (agōnizomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 75: From agon; to struggle, literally, figuratively, or genitive case.

with all-

κατὰ (kata)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

His-

αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons

energy-

ἐνέργειαν (energeian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1753: Working, action, productive work, activity; in the NT, confined to superhuman activity. From energes; efficiency.

working-

ἐνεργουμένην (energoumenēn)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1754: From energes; to be active, efficient.

powerfully-

δυνάμει (dynamei)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1411: From dunamai; force; specially, miraculous power.

within-

ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

me-

ἐμοὶ (emoi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

A suggested prayer 

What to begin and close each day of work if you are building a business.

God bring to mind, lead, and bring me to the people you wish me to work (or build my business) with and minister to. 

Also enable me to work in a way that most honors you i.e. with faith, focus, diligence, energy, strength, and love to make whatever ²sacrifice is necessary to reach (serve) the maximum number of people for you, with the potential you've given me so that I might richly bless (love) others for your glory and praise and my happiness.

Show yourself strong on my behalf so that I may bring you greater honor i.e. more fully reveal and display your goodness - i.e. make you look good, not me.

God, only you can increase and multiply the fruit of my efforts... (efforts empowered by You, but mine just the same). I ask you to do so for the honor of your Son. So be it... Amen!

 

 

 

God made the nations?

There is debate within the church of the validity of nations and/or borders. Does the Bible have anything to say about this? Let's see.

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, (why?) that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."- Acts 17:24‭-‬26 ESV

It appears from the above passage that the nation/state is a valid entity. The important question is why? 

Due to man's rebellion towards God, man seeks to unite in that rebellion whenever possible. This was the problem at the tower of Babel. Man determined to combine his resources in order to "climb to the heights of heaven" i.e. to achieve heaven on earth and bring in the kingdom of heaven (bliss) to earth without God-Christ, the rightful King. (This is the current goal of one world government - driven by corporations and those who back and control them. They seek to capture and control the economic resources of mankind, often in order to fleece them - Though some genuinely seek to serve their fellow men and women). 

This is the result of mans rebellious attempt to exalt himself, and is directly contrary to God exalting man due to man humbling himself. 

Salvation is of the Lord only. Man cannot save himself...not permanently. As a result God had to divide them up by language i.e. into different people groups, which resulted in different ¹nations. Nations were instituted by God himself in response to man's rebellion. 

Man's greatest need is to be reunited with his Creator, not uniting together in their rebellion against Him. Some seek a one world government in order to acquire unlimited power and control over all the resources of creation and other creatures. They have no regard of God's intention for His creatures or creation. 

According to the above passage reconnecting with God best occurs when we are in our separate Nation/States i.e. so... "that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."

It appears nations and the borders needed to distinguish them is not only legitimate but the necessary and best way for humanity to reach out and seek God again.

To see if God has anything to say about immigrants or immigration click here.

For a discussion on values culture and racism click here.

For a discussion on racism and the necessity of forgiveness click here

For a discussion on what divides us click here.

For a discussion of the harmful nature of identity politics click here.

What is the nature of racial privilege? Click here for a discussion.

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¹To have different nations is to have boundaries or borders. While some object to this idea no one objects to having a fense or wall around their property or doors on their home. Why do we do this? We live in a broken world and therefore desire to protect those we value and cherish. 

To voluntarily invite someone into our home is a kind and loving thing but it's not wise if we invite people in who have ill intent towards us and our family. We would not invite liars, thieves, or murderers in our house for good reason. Heaven itself does not allow such people entry. 

Doorways are also entry ways through which we invite people we trust into the sacred dwelling place we call home so we might welcome, honor and serve them.