No Earthly Good

Good day friends! Hope and pray that all is well. I recently attended a Christian ladies meeting and one of the questions that was posed was whether we had ever encountered situations where we had to take a stand and obey God rather than man?

At the meeting, I listened to stories about Christians refusing to play the lottery when faced with pressure from their workplace colleagues. I too have refused to play—most of the time. Except for when that lottery stake rises up to that 100 or so million mark, the temptation has been too great. Pray for me–God ain’t through with me yet! I think what if? Do you know what I could do with those millions of dollars to help in building up the body of Christ?!!!? And what about those Christians who put their money in the stock market? Couldn’t that also be seen as gambling? I’m just saying..

Sometimes, we try so hard to appear as if we have always lived in Heaven, we become no earthly good to unbelievers. Christians are oftentimes characterized as perfect individuals, but it is important to destroy that fallacy and let people know that we are imperfect creatures and we make mistakes too. However, the issue is not in making of the mistake but the problem comes when we fail to learn from the mistake and continue down a path that we know that God would not approve of.

To be earthly good is not about encouraging someone to indulge in gambling, but to use that opportunity to witness instead to someone; I used to do that gambling thing but I was delivered. I now know that God will provide all that I need. Just saying that I am a Christian and I don’t do that gambling thing is ineffective. We need to explain why we don’t partake in such activities.

But, I also wonder how many of those same Christians who refuse to play the group lottery would refuse money from someone who won the lottery. Is it okay in that instance to take the money from the winning gambler? Would that Christian say no to the winning gambler’s offer of $50,000 in order to show the lottery winner that God is that Christian’s sole provider? If they refused the money, would the lottery winner see that refusal as a sincere testimony of the Christian’s faith in God. Probably so, but how many would refuse the money? I dare say not many–including me. Please don’t get me wrong–I am not condoning gambling. But, Lord, help me, not sure I could pass that test. Remember, I did say pray for me. I have not arrived in Heaven yet, but I am going to get there one step at a time.

My point is that we have to be real and transparent and not appear to be so holy that no-one can talk to us about their problems and struggles since they believe that we could not relate. Unfortunately at that point, we have become no more earthly good. Let us get real. We have ALL done things that God would frown upon and it’s okay to let someone know that I was once in your situation and I fell or struggled, but this is how I overcame.

I remember the joke about the dog owner who came to the church and asked the Bishop to bury his dog. The bishop was so indignant with the request that he refused and told the man absolutely not, he is not in the business of burying dogs. The man said okay, and as he was walking away, the man told the Bishop that he was about to donate 1 million dollars to the church but things have changed, the Bishop said, “Wait, you didn’t tell me that the dog was a Christian.” My point is that we are all imperfect and we need God’s grace and abundant mercies each and every day. Let us not be afraid to tell our truth, to live our truth and to live triumphantly despite the truth. We all have struggles and it okay to say so. But thanks be to God who continues to give his children the victory!! Let us use our truth to let someone know that I was once in your shoes and I overcame. If God did it for me, He will also do it for you. Christians, let us make sure that we are heavenly bound– but, we still remain earthly good.