Always Abounding

Always abounding, as opposed to always complaining or criticizing.

The words to the hymn ‘constantly abiding’ come to mind. There’s a peace in my heart, that the world never gave.

The work always lies ahead, never behind. There is a tendency, in recognizing the dire situation of our economic, political, are religious circumstances, to take only the first part of this verse – Stedfast, unmoveable, and believe that is enough for this day. However, the verse does not end there. It COMBINES the truth of steadfastness with the forward looking always abounding in the work of the Lord.

This is God’s perspective on a Christian’s proper reaction to the state of affairs in this world. His work is to be approached with the mind set of “Always Abounding”. Another hymn, turn your eyes upon Jesus, may help here. Just as Peter’s eyes, when on circumstances, caused him to sink, so it is in today’s work of the Lord. The secularization of public schools, the murder of innocents through abortion, and the recent passing of homosexual marriage laws, are all issues that will cause us to sink if we focus our attention on them. Peter sank in circumstances. He looked around and saw hopelessness and despair. Interestingly enough, a short time later, when he stood to preach at Pentecost, he could just as easily sunk under the circumstances. Yet the truth of always abounding in the work of the Lord drove him to preach in power, and the Lord blessed. Interestingly enough, Stephen preached a very similar message a few chapters later to a similar crowd. Peter saw thousands saved, and Stephen was stoned to death. So, who was stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord – THEY BOTH WERE. Both men came to the realization that they would work the works, and preach the preaching that God gave them to do. The results were then, as now, in the hands of God. Both men came to the point of surrender. Both could have lamented the economic, religious, and political status of their era. But both men knew that the Lord could return at any time. Both committed both to being stedfast and abounding in the work of the Lord. And both were used by God – Peter’s results were immediate – thousands were saved. Stephen died without seeing one key result of his death – the influence on one who at that time hated him with the rest of the crowd – a young man named Saul, who would later become Paul. Maybe Stephen thought his work was done, and in a sense, his work personally was, as the Lord saw fit to take him home, but the Lord’s work was not done. Stephen, Peter, through their surrendered lives, were a part of God’s work, and His work reaches far beyond the days of our lives.

Even if we become experts on the political, religious, and economic scene of today, no one will ever have total control over it. What we can control, however, is the attitude and action we have toward the work of the Lord. May we be steadfast and unmoveable, and may we be always abounding in the work of the Lord. The great work to which we are called lies ahead. The Stewardship of our lives and those we affect is at stake. For the

Christian – the stewardship extends far beyond monetary gain or loss. Our stewardship relates to souls.