Tag: isaiah 53

  • Are you having fun?

    Surely he took up our pain 
       and bore our suffering, 
    yet we considered him punished by God, 
       stricken by him, and afflicted. 
    But he was pierced for our transgressions, 
       he was crushed for our iniquities; 
    the punishment that brought us peace was on him, 
       and by his wounds we are healed. 
    We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 
       each of us has turned to our own way; 
    and the LORD has laid on him 
       the iniquity of us all.

    Isaiah 53 (excerpt)

    Here’s a newsflash friends. This is about Jesus and not you. 

    There are a lot of miserable ministry people right now. They strongly identify with Jesus as a suffering servant as they languish in a role they hate. They cringe when their boss talks to them. They quietly look for jobs all day at their current job.

    Sometimes these suffering servants even have a chip on their shoulder about it. As if their having a job they hate is something we’re supposed to be impressed by? 

    True, suffering is part of life. And some of us are called to suffering in life. But I don’t think a ministry job in the United States qualifies.

    Advice for people who hate their jobs

    Quit. If it isn’t fun anymore, quit. If you find yourself whining about budget or your salary or stuff that needs to be fixed but the leaders won’t fix it, quit. If you have day dreams of the day you get to walk into your bosses office and say, “Take this job and shove it!” Quit now.

    Quitting might seem insane. But it just might lead you to something fun.

    Don’t let Satan win.

    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
    John 10:10

  • Reward yourself

    The reality is that no one is going to give you the rewards you deserve. You do so much for others that goes unnoticed. You sacrifice so many things that only Jesus knows about. And in doing so you grow weary. And if you don’t take care of yourself there is a 100% chance you’ll give up, morally fail, or just plain quit.

    So sometimes you need to reward yourself.

    Celebrate your own victories.

    Give yourself a day off.

    Buy yourself the book you are wanting to read.

    Take a class to learn something new.

    Give yourself a month from paying down your debt to go on vacation.

    And leave the guilt at home.

    You aren’t being selfish by rewarding yourself. In a way, it’s selfish to not reward yourself.

    Jesus was the suffering servant. (Isaiah 53) You aren’t. If your life’s pace has you constantly feeling like you give, give, give and you never take some time to take care of yourself… you might just be addicted to serving.

    Even Jesus took time to rest, reflect, and relax along the way.

    Your work is important. It’s so important that you need to pace yourself for life’s marathon.

    So, if it’s been a long time and you haven’t been rewarded for your faithful service. Take 5 minutes and think about a way to reward yourself.

    “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:23