Just What Have I Done?
Psalm 41
When I got off work this morning I turned on the radio and Elizabeth Elliott was speaking telling about a letter she received from apparently a college student telling of some friends in a van plunging off a bridge. Four of the eight died, college age, hadn't even started their career, hadn't married yet. Took me back to when my own children were in college. Not far from the college two students hit ice and snow on the road, not going fast at all, and the two friends from the small college died. The question brought up was, "what have they accomplished in life"? "What have they done?"
As I have mentioned in previous of my meditations a class at church is exploring bridging from Sumday worship to Monday (and the rest of the week) work. The concern focused on is that some seem to think Sunday and church and God and all are fine for Sunday. Monday and the work week is mine. A discussion moved to having a mission statement, mission statement for work, no, doesn't encompass enough. Do you have a mission statement for your life?
A quick sidestep is writing a resume. Basically an employer doesn't want to know necessarily your skillset, but rather, what have you done with your skillset? What have you accomplished?
We tend to look at our lives as needing to accomplish something meaningful, something worthwhile, something that defines what difference my life has made.
To him that excelleth. A Psalm of Dauid.
Blessed is he that judgeth wisely of the poor:
Psalms 41:1 GNV
Jesus, going through a nearby town to Nazareth, met a funeral procession. The death was that of a son, an only son of a widow woman. Judging wisely Jesus stopped the procession, touched the dead son and he came back to life.
Jesus said,
And whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink for my Name's sake, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.
Mark 9:41 GNV
To elaborate further looking later:
Then shall ye king say to them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my father: take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I thirsted, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in unto you. I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or a thirst, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in unto us? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer, and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, in as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
Matthew 25:34 - 40 GNV
What a contrast to another place before the Lord.
Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth my Father’s will which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not by thy Name prophesied? and by thy name cast out devils? and by thy name done many great works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:20 - 23 GNV
From what David wrote about discernment of the poor in their situation to what Jesus said about what is praiseworthy to the Father we would do well to consider God's purposes for us. The purpose stated is unto good working? No, unto good works.
For we are HIS workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10 GNV
And I am persuaded of this same thing, that he that hath begun this good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,
Philippians 1:6 GNV
We may have big plans for our lives. God has bigger plans. We may have work we want to do, projects to complete. God has one project for you, You. He has begun a good work in you and it is life long, whether a few years or many. Giving a cup of cold water in His name is something a two year old can do, a five year old can do, a 10 year old can do, a teenager can do, a twenty something can do, likewise a thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety, even a century old can give a cup of cold water in the name of Jesus Christ. You may be in a convent or monastery and give a cup of cold water. You can be in a business meeting and give a cup of cold water in Jesus name. You can give a cup of cold water in the name of Hesus Christ to the homeless person or to the leader of your city, region, or country.
The building you build may remain for a century. The program you write may work successfully for decades..The meal you prepare may last until the dinner is over and all are full. The cup of cold water given in Jesus name will last for eternity. So do we design and build? Yes! Do we code that program? Yes. Do we prepare that meal? Yes,
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 GNV
(See also the purpose, the work of the new man: Colossians 3:18 - 4:1.)
Did Jesus pray this psalm? Certain parts definitely not, like:
Therefore I said, Lord have mercy upon me: heal my soul, for I have sinned against thee.
Psalms 41:4 GNV
But as I was reminded last night as I read, All the Psalms are about Jesus. Did Jesus live out this psam? Within this psalm is read, he that ate with me has lifted his heel against me, a definite truth about Jesus. Within this psalm are seen great things Jesus did and great evils done against Him. He may not have prayed this paalm, but yes, He certainly lived it.