This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3:7-8 (NIV)
It matters greatly how we live our lives. It matters in the here and now and it matters eternally as well. We are not simply here to take us space, entertain ourselves to death, or go our own ways without regard of our Maker – His will and His way for our lives. God tells us in Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.” Remember, all is captivity outside of His good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives.
When our Lord walked this earth, Scripture tells us He came to do His Father’s will. In John 6:38-40 (NIV) Jesus states: For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Likewise, we are to be about the Father’s will – both for our good and His glory – one never surpassing the other. All else will be burned up in the fire which will test the quality of each man’s work. Certainly we do not want our works in the here and now to end up as mere ashes rather reward from God’s Hand to lay at Jesus’ feet. Remember as well, God will be no man’s debtor and in Whom one never outgives. Never.
It is important to remember we arrived here with nothing and we will carry nothing out with us when we leave this earth. And only the things done for Christ will last. While all the while, our world screams to us we deserve “whatever” but God tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV): “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” God both gives and takes away and may His great Name be praised through it all. What He allows and does not allow is always, always for our best even if we are unable to readily discern that or not – it is still true.
Thankfulness and humility are to be the acceptable posture for the child of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Christ set forth the pattern of being first marked by humility leading to being crowned by exaltation. We often want exaltation immediately with no suffering or pain. Yet Christ’s way to exaltation was the way of the cross and ours is as well. We abase and God exalts, just as our Lord Jesus did.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV)