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Approval
Approval might be easier to comprehend if you have taken time to ponder the preceding chapters. As pointed out in the Introduction, we are building, precept by precept, upon the foundation of Christ. If we leave out a single stone, the wall will collapse when battered by wind and rain. The purpose of building a solid wall is to have security during trying times. Friend, testing will come when you apply the teachings of Jesus Christ. You should make preparations now, so you can endure the storms.
If you are ready, begin this chapter and seize what the Lord has for you. Approval is a mystery of God. It is, however, available to all God's children. Approval is given from both God and men. When you please the Lord, you will have inner peace. Jesus was at peace with the world because He pleased our Father.
Several times in Jesus' ministry, men wanted to stone Him or throw Him over a cliff. None were able to carry out their evil thoughts until it was time for Him to go to the Cross. The Lord sanctioned His Son's crucifixion because it was necessary to justify the redemption of this world's sin. Even in His death, Jesus had His Father's approval.
"For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool." Acts 2:34-35
"When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7
The word approval relates to these five basic meanings: sanction, support, consent, authorization and favor. The synonym most closely fitting our subject is the word favor. In our language, we spell it this way, favor. In the scriptures, the spelling is favour. The spelling differs; the concept remains unchanged.
These definitions are from Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary: (1) to regard or treat with favor, (2) to do a kindness for, oblige, (3) to treat gently or carefully, (4) to give support or confirmation to, sustain, (5) to afford advantages for success, (6) approving consideration or attention, (7) a token of love (as a ribbon) worn conspicuously, (8) a special privilege or right granted or conceded. (415)
All these definitions apply to the favor of God. His favor encompasses all these and goes beyond words.
"Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed: for I am thy God: I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not: I will help thee." Isaiah 41:9-13
Can you name at least one favored person where you work? This person would have the approval of his peers, his subordinates, and his supervisor. Approval is standing out from all the rest for the right reasons in everyone's judgment. Do you think I am talking about a teacher's pet? I am talking about God's servant, and from time to time, a servant does err. When he does, he must pay for his mistake as does everyone else. He will receive chastisement. The Lord has promised it; He keeps His word.
Approval is a strong testimony for the Lord, Jesus Christ. Witnessing for Christ demands approval. To witness, approval is a must; it is a needed tool. When a man wants to learn about a subject, he seeks a person having the right credentials. Does a man find a vagrant to learn about finances? Does a man find an accountant to learn about horticulture? Does a man find a corpse to learn about life? Approval or favor is the right credential for witnessing. Who listens to the words of a man when his words do not have the approval the Jesus Christ?
"Many will entreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." Proverbs 19:6-8
An approved person is a teaching person. People want to hear the words of a favored person. His words have value. When Mothers have the approval of God, they raise their children to receive the approval of God. When people have approval, they teach it. We cannot escape this basic principle. God gives to those who are willing to learn, do, and teach the same.
"And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?" Mark 12:35
"In the same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled." Matthew 26:55-56
Do you think you will ever have the approval of your supervisor? I will respond with scripture: "all things are possible to God." You work where you do because it is the Lord's plan for you. You are where you are and doing what you do because of His eternal purpose and pleasure. The Lord is reality. All else is temporal.
Do you enjoy knowing that the Lord is in total control? Most people would prefer to be in control of their own lives. They want to be in the driver's seat with Christ sitting beside as co-pilot. Who is the real co-pilot? The Lord is God. He is Sovereign. The Lord makes peace. He also creates evil or trouble. Yes, the Lord creates trouble, but He only does good. Do you remember His words to Satan at the beginning of the book of Job? Who is the I in God's work as stated in these scriptures?
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil. I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 45:5-7
The Lord works in and through us as He teaches us and others at the same time. All things in heaven and earth are in His hand. Using elements and spirits, He moves hearts and souls in His eternal plan. You, with the stung pride, remember this: judgment begins at the house of God. Will you start to learn about the inner mysteries of the Lord? I used the words start to learn, because neither you nor I will ever learn all while in this clay.
"And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know." I Corinthians 8:2
I want to show you something about taking proper care of your soul. If applied, it leads to approval. A majority of churches and elders teach that pastors are the ones referred to in the next set of scriptures. We know, however, God's word is eternal. Without exception, it encompasses all situations and all people. Therefore, obey those watching over you in the workplace. They watch out for you so that grief does not fill your soul.
During the hours of employment, your supervisor must give account for you, both to God and man. Let his accounting be to your honor. Do as instructed and give thanks to God for the work.
"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:15-17
While you are in the workplace, your well being is the responsibility of your employer. Your pastor is responsible for you while you sit in a pew. How much trouble do you face while sitting there? What trouble do you face while laboring in the workplace? Time and place considered, who has the greater responsibility of watching out for your soul, your pastor or your employer?
In the last scripture, you read "and not with grief." Do you know whose grief? I have heard this scripture taught in a manner so that it pointed to the pastor's grief. I would point out that the grief belongs to your own soul. We cannot blame anyone else. Each of us must stand before Christ and give an account for sins.
As used in almost all occurrences in the Bible, grief means depression, anguish, pain or sorrow. If assigned extra work are you grieved? Does your jaw drop or your face twist? When you get extra work, be glad. You will never gain approval by griping and criticizing. The Lord will deliver you, so bear your duties in gladness.
"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surly he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we were healed." Isaiah 53:3-5
Friend, carry out your supervisor's instructions in the spirit of submission and gladness. You accept the money for serving in the workplace. Serve without grumbling and condemning. The Spirit of the Lord rejects these as evil or trouble.
If you refuse to work God's way, you open a wound in your soul. Your self-inflicted injury will fester and ooze poison. You will harbor guilt and be unforgiving toward your supervisor and the company. Your discontent will reveal the abscess in your heart. You alone will pay the inward price for your resentment.
Resentment is just as evil as the sin of adultery. Do you remember, from the previous chapters, the folly of concealing your heart? Who among us can do one thing before God while pretending another? We are the creatures. God is the Creator. What can we hide?
"The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?" Proverbs 18:14
Christ taught everyone the same doctrine of approval. Do you recall what He told Judas at Passover. He said, "That thou doest, do quickly." Judas heard Jesus and went on to betray Christ. I want you to understand the way Jesus told Judas to do his work. Jesus teaches the same message to both the Lost and the Saved. The Lord would have all men to work quickly and with gladness.
Judas did his work quickly; even though, his motives centered on himself. Therefore, they were wrong. Through deceit, he tried to force Christ to rule this world. Judas tried to manipulate Jesus to drive the Romans from Israel. Self-glory blinded Judas; he did not understand why Jesus came to this earth. Fearful, all Christ's disciples betrayed Him. Later, His teachings surfaced within them and taught them to work faithfully. To have approval, you must work faithfully and without fear.
If you are the Lord's, He counts you a servant to all men, whether you like it or not. The responsibility of servant falls on your shoulders. You should honor your supervisor, subordinates and peers. Regardless of sex, race, age, or whatever, disciples of Christ must serve all men. How does the world recognize us? We are known by our love for the brethren.
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The LORD knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." II Timothy 2:19
The Lord has an excellent name, and we are to serve in the name of Jesus Christ. We are ambassadors of the Most High. We stand on this earth in His stead. Honor those around you, or they will think evil thoughts of Christ and you. The root of these evil thoughts and the outcome will be to your shame.
Think about the word honor and what it means to you. See if these words apply: esteem, respect, tribute, integrity, modesty, and purity. Do you have a picture of the word honor? Have you thought of ways to honor others where you work?
"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort." I Timothy 6:1-2
Serving for the purpose of accumulating to yourself makes you a greedy loser. In your greed, you have missed the understanding of the "Kingdom of Heaven" and the riches flowing forth to you. Your eyes are on this temporal world and its vanity. The "Kingdom of Heaven" is a lengthy subject. We might discuss it at another time.
For now, I want you to look at the next set of scriptures, examine each of these points. Notice the reward given to each of the servants. The rewards were given according to how each servant worked. Their lord gave them rewards based on their expectations. Remember this, all three servants served the same man; none served another master. The master gave each servant responsibility and allowed him to work, without watching over his shoulder. These are key elements to understanding this teaching.
"For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. he also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talents in the earth: lo, thou hast that is thine. And his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gathered where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 25:14-30
Having read the last set of scriptures, let us review the applicable points. Did you see where the master assigned responsibilities to each of his servants, according to their proven abilities? Based on the master's discernment, the servants received only what they could manage. Do you show good judgment by assigning work in this manner?
You should assign a person only the amount he can carry. In your judgment, did the man show himself to be wise and fair in the way he distributed the talents? As a servant, the Lord carries all the responsibility. Ponder on that for a while. It will help you to understand the word servant.
"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." I Peter 2:21-24
Most supervisors assign work based on their own needs or fears. They have minimum consideration of their servants' abilities. As discussed in Essentials, there are reasons for these problems. Have no despair. You can change circumstances, but changing them requires approval.
Caution, does the servant judge his master? Is the servant greater than his master? If the servant sees himself greater than his master, the servant has become both judge and master. If this is the case, the servant stepped out of his place. He now holds his head high and is going headlong into a fall. Great will be the fall of that servant.
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" Matthew 10:24-25
When questioned, did you notice the lazy servant's first words? "I knew thee that thou art an hard man." The servant spoke to his master with defiant words; he judged his master. The wicked servant expected no mercy from his master. Consequently, the servant received exactly what he expected. The master judged the worthless servant according to the servant's words and expectations, two witnesses. The servant reaped what he had sown.
The master had the unprofitable servant cast into outer darkness as reward for his service. This illustration shows how spiritual blindness is brought on by the lack of doing. Please, be careful with your words. You cannot take them back; though at times, you might want to. Look at this example of a person getting what he expected.
"And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." Luke 19:22-27
The slothful servant yielded to the desires of his heart. His heart influenced his thoughts. His thoughts came forth in his words. The wicked servant prejudged his master as a hard man. The wicked servant wanted to change his master's ways, instead of changing his own ways. Who was Lord in his eyes?
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lusts, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren." James 1:13-16
Why did the lazy servant do what he did with his talent? Did he fear the risk of failure? Perhaps he did not want others to know that he was the man's servant. Perchance, his position in the market place would have caused him ridicule, so he did what he thought was best.
The servant hid his one talent instead of working with it among the people. His heart misled him to think that he would have at least the one talent when his master returned. All this leads to one conclusion. Do you see the lack of commitment, the poor judgment, and the fearful attitude of the servant? A fearful spirit is to be far from us.
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
The Lord saved us to do something besides sit around, gaze into the distance, and waste time. Man's nature measures spirituality according to his unbalanced scales. Man judges himself by the evil he sees in others. Pointing his finger, man says, "I've sinned, but not as bad as him." The Lord compares our works to Christ's.
The Lord called you to work and work His way, wherever He placed you. Get to it, or you will receive the same reward as the unprofitable servant. By your own doing, you will cast yourself into spiritual darkness; the result of which is tears and the grinding of teeth.
If this happens, you will theorize about what went wrong and why your life is so bad. You will say, "Why has God forsaken me?" "Oh, pathetic me, I am God's child, so why do I have to live like this?" Yes, you are right. You would never say such statements in public. You will, however, say them privately as did Job, Elijah and Jonah. In the depths of your soul, you will say them. Christ will hear your words. The words will be a witness to your shame.
"Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?" Job 3:11-12
"But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." I Kings 19:4
"Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live." Jonah 4:3
In your workplace, have you heard anyone say this, "I would do more if I was paid more." These words contradict the logical sequence. Whoever says them puts the plow in front of the horse.
Slackers reach this conclusion by justifying their resistance to work. If the person is slacking, why would any one think he would become diligent after he received more compensation? If you want more, work more.
Longer hours, dripping sweat, or unquestionable hardship is not working more. Working more means having more value. Working more means increasing your worth; it is becoming more than you were. Careful, working more is not more valuable than someone else. Never compare yourself with anyone except Jesus Christ. Jesus is our living example.
Now we get back to our primary subject. The first two servants had their master's approval. As achievers, they had shown their worth. The master confirmed their abilities by giving them more talents.
When two of the servants received their talents, they diligently began to gain increase for their master. Do you think no one cared for them in their service? As the master gained, they also gained. What belonged to the master was theirs to administer. Indirectly, the scriptures show this. Did the man take any of the talents from the two servants? No! He even gave an extra talent to the ten-talent servant.
"Whoso keepeth a fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof; so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured." Proverbs 27:18
Doing everything right in the workplace is difficult. We may want to do right, but to do it, we need direction. We need direction from our supervisors and from Christ. We need direction about what to do and how to do it. When the circumstances are questionable, stop and look around. Survey the overall situation. Haste causes mistakes. Calm down, relax, and get hold of the situation. As you do, talk to Jesus. He knows and sees things beyond our comprehension. Allow Him to come into your life. As His servant, lean on Him. Be willing to do His commands. If you adhere to this approach, your work will be correct in the workplace.
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you." I Peter 5:5-7
Man looks at the visible options and weighs them against his potential risk. Businesses operate everyday in this worldly mode. Daily, company officials make cost-benefit decisions. They make them based on the minimum risk needed to get the maximum profit for their company and for themselves. Decisions in this category are obvious. Anyone can make them. Decisions that require favor, however, are beyond man's shortsighted view.
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalms 46:10
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Matthew 6:7-8
This example is of four men making a worldly decision. They made their decision after calculating their benefits and weighing their risks. They played the percentages.
These men were sitting outside of the city's gate. Each of them had leprosy. This affliction was slowly killing them. To add to their grief, Syria had laid siege around the city. The Syrians were forcing the city to surrender by starving its citizens. For these reasons, the four starving lepers sat outside of the city's gate waiting to die.
As they waited, they began talking among themselves about their predicament. Of course, the lepers disease was contagious. If they went into the city to beg food, the inhabitants would kill them. The lepers knew the city was low on food. Anyway, what man would show them mercy.
Though they would die of leprosy, starvation was their immediate concern. Leprosy causes a disgraceful death. Starvation is a cruel death. Hunger gnawed at their stomachs. They knew that starvation would kill them before the leprosy could run its course. Their only choice was to go to the enemy's camp for food. Even though, they knew the enemy might kill them. At this point in their life, it was the only option left.
Anxiety rose in their hearts as they approached the enemy's camp. When they got there, they were surprised. There was no one left in the camp. Through the Lord's intervention, He had caused their enemies to flee. The enemy had left everything when they ran.
The famished lepers had a feast all to themselves. Read this story of their success and how they unselfishly brought food back to the people in the starving city. After viewing all points, they made the right decision. They chose their only option.
"And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive; we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." II Kings 7:3-4
Since man has worldly wisdom based on visible observations, what additional wisdom is available from our Father? The Lord knows the past, present and future. Why should we sit in one place until we have no options left? Why would we be too proud to ask God what to do and then not believe or do it? If we are going to have the approval of God and man, we must have supernatural intervention. Wisdom from above is worth far more than earthly wit.
"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." James 3:16-18
When you start doing what you have learned in Christ, the testing will come. Gaining and holding God's approval does have a price on it. You do not learn and do anything God's way without being tested.
A continual war persists between the spirit and the flesh. The more you grow in Christ, the more the flesh fights to regain its loss. The more you grow spiritually, the more problems you will see in your life. From this, we see a pattern; the closer Satan comes to his end, the more violent he becomes.
Your growth does not cause more problems. Growth opens your eyes to the problems; it gives more consciousness to your life. Then your understanding exceeds twenty-twenty vision. Jesus saw clearly and knew that sorrow comes from wisdom. Jesus was well acquainted with sorrow.
Testing is a necessary part of your spiritual growth. Your worth is proven by testing. Our Father knows your worth, but you must come to realize it. This strengthens your faith.
We refine gold in a container by using heat. There, we separate the gold from its ore. Pure gold is brilliant and reflects the goldsmith's image. The Lord refines us by using testing. When tested, our faith in the Lord purifies; we reflect His image. Fiery trials grow our faith. Look forward to the flaming trials, and know they are for your good and growth.
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1:6-9
After receiving approval, Paul tells about his spiritual war. Though the battle intensifies as the spirit moves forward, the Spirit ultimately wins the war. Our Lord determined that it should be this way. How else can we grow in spirit? How else can we be more like God's Son? The Lord ordained that all His children follow in the likeness of His precious Son. We should face our testings with faith in Christ. His faith brings joy.
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." Romans 7:14-25
One thing that will help you as you learn about gaining approval is view. Do you find that unusual? I am talking about the view that is before you as you look from where you stand. View is the portion of what you see as you look at the overall scene.
Let me give you an illustration. Picture yourself standing on a sandy beach. As you peer over the water, your view and conclusion would be that the world must be flat. Yes, you know the earth is round, but from your view on the beach, the earth would appear flat. If no one had taught you the earth is round, you would think it was flat.
We now move to another setting. Picture yourself standing on the moon looking at the earth. Your view shows the earth is spherical. It looks like a round ball. The only thing changed in this scene is your position or view point. One view shows the earth flat, while another proves the earth is a sphere. It has the shape of an orb. An orb is a celestial, spherical body.
Now, we can draw a conclusion from the illustration. Your view or perspective directly limits the correctness of your decision. Your understanding is directly proportional to the scope of your view. If your view is narrow-minded, your understanding is the same.
When you start serving God and circumstances go against you, consider your view. Where are you standing? What are you seeing? Who do you serve? Why do you serve? Who is in control of all things? Begin serving God, and expect false accusations and, maybe, false reprimands. God forbid! You may as well get ready for the testing. It is coming, and it is needed.
"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." I Peter 2:20
The following scriptures are from various parts of the Bible. They will give you an overview of the unmistakable times when the Lord granted approval. True favor is only available from the Lord. He gave and gives favor to both great and small. Our Lord gives favor to individuals and to nations. Today, look at what He does for the West, particularly America. He gave favor to the West because the Lord favored the individuals living there. May we have the Lord's favor continuously. We cannot live without it.
"And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people." Exodus 11:3
"The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaids." Ruth 2:12-13
"And the child grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men." I Samuel 2:26
"Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hahai the king's chamber-lain, the keeper of women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her." Esther 2:15
"Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit." Job 10:12
"Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word." Psalms 119:57-58
Now that you have read this chapter, write on these lines the kind of approval that you would have of the Lord. Set your goal only after you have pondered your needs.
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The LORD Is GOD Even At Work
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