03/02/2020 - PREPARE YOURSELF, YOU WILL BE ENVIED!

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Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.    Eclesiastes 4:4

Skilled people in arts, whether in handicrafts (such as painting pictures) or in any other activity (sporting, literary, musical etc.) can expect to be envied. Some will be persecuted by journalists, family members or those who have tried to succeed in the same field but failed. The human being is envious!

On the other hand, society expects one who succeeds in one field to be successful in others as well. In fact, whoever succeeds will always be sought if he continues to grow, because they do not applaud the person, but his deeds. If they are missing, it will all be forgotten. This also happens to those who are used by God – as they get older, they are ignored. Applause lasts as long as success lasts. Have mercy!

From the verse, we can understand that the ability to do something well causes envy in others. The saying goes: “We are only good as long as we are useful.” Now, if something bad happens, we become last week’s news, a memory of a time that was good during the joy of those who took part of it. Prepare yourself, because this always happens. Tough reality!

It is God who enables man to do beautiful and excellent things, as he did with Bezalel, whom he called and filled with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. (Ex 31:1-5). Even today, the Most High does the same to countless people around the world.

Next to Bezalel, the Lord placed Aoliab. God has said that He has given wisdom to the heart of everyone who is an artisan to do all that He has commanded (Exodus 31:6). Certainly, in every generation, He has given special artistic talents so that His work can grow and be a blessing to mankind. But how many failed to pay attention to the Lord and therefore lost a great deal?

The same thing happens regarding faith. Some Christians disregarded where they would live or what they would do; they just fulfilled the divine mission. However, others, viewing through natural eyes, stood motionless before the command given by the Lord. Of course, many will be accountable of the lives that were lost because they have ceased to go where God had prepared for them to minister the Word. I don’t want to be in their shoes.

There is nothing to fear! The Lord sustains us, does the work, and empowers us to represent Him. There has never been a case where someone has done their part in the mission field without being cared for by the Heavenly Father. Most likely, there were people who were not called by Him and, therefore, were not answered in their requests.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares