Pastor's Pondering, September 22, 2014

What will they say about you?

What will people say about you at your memorial service? How will you have impacted those who live on? We spend our lives trying to provide for our families, accumulate wealth, prepare for sudden disasters, participate in social causes, and attempt to make the world a better place. However, when we become so busy and obsessed with life’s responsibilities we sometimes forget about the difference we are having on people’s lives.  While we all want to be financially comfortable, the Bible says that it is more important to have a good name rather than riches (Proverbs 22:1).

For example, the Lord has blessed me to lose weight and recently a man told me that I had inspired him to lose seventy pounds! This will undoubtedly change the quality of his life and his overall life expectancy.   I had no idea that my behavior was being observed.

The book of Acts describes a story of a lady who was well respected for her good works and when she died, her acquaintances testified to the apostles about how she had greatly impacted their lives.  They did not discuss her riches but instead cried about what she had done for them.  Several people must have died in that city on that day but Peter was used by God to raise her from the dead (Acts 9:36-40).

To be clear, we are not just here to please other people, we are here to do God’s will (Ephesians 6:6, 7).  We should live like Jesus lived, pleasing his Father but also mankind (Luke 2:52). Let us make a decision today to live upstanding lives that please God and man (Matthew 5:16). 

Please comment below and share with others how you learned to seek to please God and mankind. You can encourage others to do the same.

Proverbs 22:1
New International Version (NIV)

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Acts 9:36-40
New International Version (NIV)

36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.

Ephesians 6:6, 7
Amplified Bible (AMP)

6 Not in the way of eye-service [as if they were watching you] and only to please men, but as servants (slaves) of Christ, doing the will of God heartily and with your whole soul;

7 Rendering service readily with goodwill, as to the Lord and not to men,

Luke 2:52
New International Version (NIV)

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Matthew 5:16

New International Version (NIV)

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.