Don’t Compromise Just Capitalize
As Christians today, we’re in a battle. The Bible says in Job 14:1, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.” If we’re honest with ourselves, we have to admit that the world is full of trouble. We’re in a spiritual battle for our lives, our children’s lives, our friends’ lives, and the lives of those that are lost. The enemy is pulling out all the stops to deceive as many as he can. As we know, babies are having babies. Children are killing children. Mothers AND fathers are killing their children. The African American male is on his way to extinction as there are more African American males in prison than there are in college. Men are marrying men. Women are marrying women. The financial institutions of America have severely failed. But even in the midst of all this trouble, be encouraged and DON’T COMPROMISE, JUST CAPITALIZE. One may ask, “How do I not compromise when the odds are so stacked against me?” Well 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 tell us that “We are troubled on every side, yet not in distress; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” If we believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, then we have the victory over everything that comes up against us.
In the first book of Corinthians, Paul spends a lot of his time encouraging them to hold on to their faith. The church at Corinth was a church with many gifts, but they were also full of issues. They were in trouble and began to lose focus on the task at hand, similar to many of our churches today. So he encourages them in 1 Corinthians 15:58 to be “steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.”
To be steadfast is to be 1) fixed in a direction; 2) firm in purpose and faith; and 3) unwavering. Don’t lose focus on the mission. Philippians 3:14 states “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The prize is Jesus, so we can’t get caught up in trivial fleshly things that don’t give us a reward! There is no middle ground. It’s heaven or bust. You can only serve one master. You can only have one goal and our goal must be heaven!
To be unmoveable is to be 1) reliable; 2) loyal; 3) persevering; and 4) unflinching. 2 Timothy 2:19 tells us “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Isaiah 28:16 tells us “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” And Matthew 16:18 tells us “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Knowing that Jesus is our sure foundation, we can be unmoveable and don’t have to waiver with every wind and unsound doctrine that blows our way.
To abound is to be 1) be alive; 2) be thick with; and 3) flourish. To “always abound in the work of the Lord” simply means to be up to your necks in the work of the Lord. Why? The end of 1 Corinthians 15:58 states “forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” In St. John 9:4, Christ tells us to “work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” And Ephesians 4:11-13 explains that God has given us all special gifts that can be use “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
When life doesn’t seem fair and things are not going your way and you’re ready to lash out at the world, I’m here to tell you to be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. When your money is funny and your change has become strange and cutting corners is the best way to make ends meet, I’m here to tell you to be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. When your boss is acting up and it looks like your permanent job may soon become temporary and you’re ready to curse out your boss, I’m here to encourage you to be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord! There’s no time for compromises. We have to capitalize on the promises of God!
What are some of God’s promises?
2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that the “promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
Romans 8:37 tells us that “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Philippians 4:13 tell us that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
John 16:33 tell us that “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
And Romans 8:28 tells us that “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”
The Bible also says that God is not like man that he should lie. So if He doesn’t lie, then we don’t have to doubt his word. He said that His word will stand forever, and it’s standing today. And since we are expected to do “greater works than Jesus performed,” we must be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord . . . then we don’t have to compromise, but we can capitalize on the promises of God!
Minister Eugene C. McCown, Jr.
HTC Men’s Ministry