Daily Devotional 11/10/09-Whatever Is Done

From Reflections:

1 Corinthians 14:26, NIV: What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.

There were religious leaders in Jesus’ day that were in competition with others to be seen as the most religious. They would “make their phylacteries wide,” and ”love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.” They were compelled to act by a personal agenda—one that began and ended with themselves. God willing, we will never find ourselves to be quite so selfishly motivated. Yet, selfishness can be subtle and therewith capable of hindering what God may do through us. If, for instance, you are excited about a new truth God has shown you in His Word, and you can’t wait to share it with your friend, but you feel the Spirit is leading you to wait, and you share the Word anyway; are you doing so to strengthen yourself, or your friend? It is ever so easy to do good works in order to gain a little something for ourselves. We should strive so that whether we speak, or witness, or share, or give—whatever we do—that all would be for the glory of God, and the strengthening of others.