The Apostle Paul wrote, in 1 Thessalonians 2:13: "For this reason also we thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." How effectively does God's word work in each of us? Virtually all Christians want to be effective, but most of us recognize our need to grow. Following are some suggestions for growing our effectiveness.
Genesis 1:27 says that God made us "in his image." That doesn't refer to our physical bodies, but to our inner being. Understanding our likeness to God should keep us from imagining ourselves dumb or useless.
God looks at what is inside, not at the outward appearance. "The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3-4)
Of course, we must not overestimate ourselves either. The apostle also wrote, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)
And when you understand these principles, be encouraged by Paul's words in Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
We can't be effective or successful if we can't deal properly with other people. We can't be effective if we have broken relationships that we are capable of repairing.
Jesus taught, "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)
Jesus also taught, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12) We call this the "golden rule," and it is mandatory if we are to be effective Christians.
The Lord summarized this issue when he said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34) Some have called this love the "badge of discipleship."
Effective people make plans and then go to work on their plans. The same is true for effective Christians. The apostle Paul wrote Philemon and said, "prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you." This was evidence that Paul made plans.
Planning also is seen in the command regarding our Lord's Day giving. Scripture says, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart..." (2 Corinthians 9:7). Purposing is the equivalent of planning ahead.
Obviously, we must acknowledge that we can't foresee the future; but nevertheless, we can plan to do various things "if the Lord wills."
Someone has written that attitude determines your actions, and your actions determine your effectiveness, or success. Many things that determine our success lie outside our control. But attitude isn't one of those things. We control that. The Bible says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
The Apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
And Galatians 6:9 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Little work usually translates into little success. The Bible puts it this way: "But this I say, He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." (2 Corinthians 9:6) Sometimes we are less effective than we ought to be because we do a lot of planning but very little work. We must do both.
Whatever the area of activity, complacency kills success. To be effective, your desire to accomplish your goals must be strong enough to cause you to do whatever is necessary. Desire is more than a casual whim; it is a powerful drive that doesn't permit anything to stand in its way.
The Bible is full of examples of faithful men and women who faced daunting challenges but who did not waver in their determination to accomplish their God-given jobs. Hebrews 11 contains a good list of such people.
True effectiveness requires two things--character and competence (know-how). Both come from the Lord, through his word. Effectiveness in the Lord's kingdom is rarely accidental. It requires conscious commitment and effort.
Paul wrote Timothy, "Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you." (1 Timothy 4:15-16). Those are good words for all of us.
Brother Blackaby has challenged us, as God's people, to live lives that are totally different from the lives of those who are in the world. Sadly, in our world, it is often difficult to distinguish between the Godly and the ungodly. Why is this so?
Unfortunately, instead of applying truth's standards to our lives, we set our standards according to the world's standards. Christians cannot effectively win souls to God's kingdom if we live, walk, and talk like the world.
In the last paragraph of his article, Randy hit the nail on the head-the key to righteous living is a deep understanding of God's word. One cannot live what he doesn't know. Lack of knowledge has always led God's people into destruction (Hosea 4:6).
God expects a lot of His children who live in this wicked and corrupt world. Men living in darkness cannot recognize light if they don't see it in the lives of God's children.
As God's people, let's carefully examine our lives to determine whether we are as effective as we could be. Can we do less and still please God? (KMG)