Years ago, a well-known comedian made the following statement in determining one’s financial position: “When you go to work, if your name is on the outside of the building, you are rich. If your name is on your desk, you are middle-class. If your name is on your shirt, you are poor.
The Christian is to live a well-ordered life. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). As time goes on, we are even more convinced that balance is the key to successful living for the Lord. Balance is the key for elders, as they take care that material and financial considerations not overshadow their spiritual functions. Balance is the key for preachers, that social and administrative duties do not overshadow their study and teaching responsibilities. And balance is the key for the individual child of God, that the business of daily temporal concerns does not overshadow his obligations as a faithful and working member of the body of Christ.
The following are some significant truths about our Lord and Savior that we should give thought to as children of God (Romans 8:16; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 5:2);
Paul promises that all who live godly in Christ will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12), and it needs to be remembered that not all persecution is of a physical sort that touches our fleshly bodies. Moreover, all will be tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13), and all will have those occasions when they sin (1 John 1:8, 10).
When people first become Christians, they usually are very excited about being saved. They want to go out and teach the whole world. They are burning with zeal. They love the Lord and want to share Him with everyone (cf. Acts 9:17-22). A true disciple has given himself to the Lord, to be taught and used in His service (Luke 14:33; Gal. 2:20; Romans 12:1-2). Such a one will never grow weary in well doing (Gal. 6:9). He will remain fervent in spirit in serving Christ (Romans 12:11).