Dear Church Family, 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. I learned this week that high in the Andes Mountains, a plant known as the puya raimondii – or the Queen of the Andes, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puya_raimondii – grows more than 30 feet high and can live well over 100 years. But here’s the interesting fact, the plant only flowers once, and only then at the end of its life. At some point between 80 to 150 years of age in the wild, its massive spikes flower into a glorious display, and then . . .the plant dies. In other words, it takes a really long time for anyone to see its stunning beauty. I’m learning that some investments in life are like that. They show little or no growth for years, only to offer unexpected returns at an opportune time. That isn’t always the case in the Kingdom of God; sometimes our investments of time, talent and treasure bear visible fruit quickly. But often they don’t. As with slow flowering plants or slow-growth investments, only patient endurance allows us to see the end and reap the reward. And, because this is a common dynamic in God’s Kingdom, we need to be extremely patient and persistent in our eternal investments. Yes, our prayers may not always reveal extraordinary results for a while, but they are still accomplishing much. And yes, our work may not seem productive at the moment, but in God’s economy it will nevertheless produce much as well. Our good attitudes may not seem like they’re rubbing off on those around us, but they eventually will. Our love may not appear to make a difference, but if we keep on loving as an expression of God’s heart, it certainly will. In itself, time is not a significant variable in determining the value of God-honoring investments. As children of God we must be tenacious (I’m learning to appreciate that word more and more each day). We must be willing to hang on to the promise God has given us for decades, pray over a challenge with persistence, and keep sowing seeds of God’s purposes and resources whether we see results or not, knowing they will eventually bear fruit. After all, they belong to God, and He is the source of life. How could they not? Everything He touches will eventually flourish, including our lives. Have a great weekend. I look forward to worshipping God with you on Sunday!
Posted on: Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:32:13 +0000
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