GIVING YOUR BEST
Colossians 3:12
INTRODUCTION: In the Old Testament the people claimed to be followers of God and to be his children and servants. However in addressing the priests of Israel, God said to the people in Malachi 1:6 … "A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. I am your father and master, but where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have despised my name! But you ask, ’How have we ever despised your name?’" (NLT) In reply God told them in verses 7 and 8 that they were guilty of offering substandard sacrifices, which would not be acceptable even by the world’s standards. They were guilty of practicing a cheap religion failing to give God what He deserves – their best. Realize that a cheap religion, costing little, is rejected by God, and so is worth nothing. God calls for us to show the reality of our profession by love and reverential fear – by giving of our best to the Master. Israel showed by their worship the shallowness of their relationship to God. Today, we do not offer sacrifices of sheep or goats, but 1 Peter 2:5 tells us that believers constitute a holy priesthood in order to "offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." If your love for Christ and your relationship to Him were to be measured by the character and caliber of your worship, would God have to echo what He said to Israel through Malachi? Have you given Him your best?
I. Worship is a reflection of an individual’s relationship to God.
A. Writing more than one hundred years ago, Alexander Paterson Smith gave this definition of worship: "To worship God is to make Him the supreme object of our esteem and delight, both in public, private, and secret."
B. Colossians 3:23 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily (with enthusiasm), as to the Lord, and not unto men"
C. How does your worship stack up? Does it reflect an enthusiastic delight in God?
D. In your singing, in praising and praying, in listening and attending to the preaching of the Word of God, in your attendance and involvement in the church’s corporate worship and ministries, does it measure up or is it substandard?
E. In the middle of a soloist’s number at church, a young grandson Chandler tugged on his grandmother’s sleeve and whispered, "She can’t sing very well, can she?" Knowing the woman had a deep love for the Lord, the grandmother said, "Chandler, she sings from her heart. That’s what makes it good." He nodded thoughtfully. Several days later as he and his grandmother were singing along with the car radio, Chandler stopped and said, "Nana, you sing from your heart, don’t you?" - Barbara McKeever, Urbana, Ohio. Christian Reader, "Kids of the Kingdom."
F. God does not expect flawless perfection from us. What He does expect is our best.
G. "Hear ye the Master’s call, ‘Give me Thy best!’ For, be it great or small, that is His test. Do then the best you can, not for reward, not for the praise of man, but for the Lord." [Our Best Kirk, S.C. / Tullar, Grant Colfax © 1949 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation) CCLI License No. 754427]
H. Am I doing my best for my Master?
I. The word worship is a shortened form of the old word worthship, which means showing God the worth he holds in your life.
II. An All-embracing Principle – In Everything Doing Our Best
A. Colossians 3:17 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus"
B. Doing "all in the name of the Lord Jesus" means bringing honor to Christ in every aspect and activity of daily living. As a Christian, you represent Christ at all times — wherever you go and whatever you say.
C. Literally, "And everything whatsoever you do … do all,"
D. Everything we do falls under the category of either words or deeds.
E. Words – Every word that comes out of our mouths
1. Avoid words that dishonor Christ.
a. IDLE WORDS, BITTER WORDS, PROFANE WORDS, GOSSIP
• Matthew 12:36 (KJV) "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.’ Every idle word – a word that does nothing, that neither ministers grace nor instruction to them who hear it; a word not only vain or empty, but also that might be wicked and injurious.
• Do you remember that chant from childhood: "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?" It isn’t true. Everyone has sometimes been hurt by words. We are hurt by lying words. We are hurt by unkind words. We are hurt by angry words. Words can hurt.
• Profanity is evidence of the lack of sufficient vocabulary and brains; the attempt of a feeble mind seeking to express itself forcefully.
2. Use words that build the kingdom of Christ
• Colossians 3:17 (NLT) And whatever you do or say, LET IT BE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LORD JESUS, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father."
• Titus 2:8 "Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."
• To say what is untrue, what is unkind, or to say it unkindly, constitutes failure in Christian living and Christian witness. –George Duncan in Every Day With Jesus. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 16.
• Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
3. Psalms 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
F. Deeds - that which one undertakes to do — Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
1. There can be no random actions in the life of the believer; everything is consecrated to the Lord. His name and banner are over us and extends to every aspect of our life. There can be no area of exception; everything is to be consecrated to Him.
2. Consecration is handing God a blank sheet to fill in with your name signed at the bottom. – M. H. Miller (1904- )
3. A Christian is on duty 24/7. There is nothing that a believer does that is not a direct reflection of his relationship to Christ.
4. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? [20] For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
III. A Practical Measuring Stick for a Christian’s Life
A. Colossians 3:17 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus"
B. in the name of the Lord Jesus -- as disciples called by His name as His, seeking His guidance and help, and desiring to act so as to gain His approval — Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
C. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV) "Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God."
D. Do you want a norm for Christian conduct? Do you want a standard to go by? Do you want a principle rather than a lot of little rules? Paul gives us such a principle here. He does not say what we should or should not do. If you can say that, if you are doing it in His name, then go ahead and do it. This is a marvelous standard, a yardstick that we can put down on our lives. —J. Vernon McGee’s Through The Bible
E. Can I do this "in the name of Christ?" Can I "give thanks to God" for this activity? We cannot exempt any part of our lives from this measure.
F. Colossians 3:23 (KJV) "And whatsoever you do, do it heartily (with enthusiasm), as to the Lord, and not unto men"
G. Don’t imagine that you have got to go into a cave to be consecrated, and stay there all your life. But… Whatever you take up, take it up with all your heart. - D.L. Moody, Christian History, no. 25
CONCLUSION: "Every work for Jesus will be blest, But He asks from everyone His best. Our talents may be few, these may be small, but UNTO HIM IS DUE OUR BEST, OUR ALL." [Our Best© 1949 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation) CCLI License No. 754427] Are you giving your best to the Master? Have you given Him first place in your heart? Have you consecrate every part of your life? Have you given Him the best you have?
