Rogue Traders
We love watching TV shows about other people’s misfortune. It has a way of making us all feel very fortunate! Simon and Rachael Taylor lead our Newcastle congregation and want real fortune to be apart of the destiny of every person they meet become rogue traders!
Ever seen the TV program ‘Rogue Traders’? I love it! It’s about tradesman who rip off Joe Bloggs who is clueless about how long a job should take and what actually needs to be done to fix the faults on their houses. Alongside my busy role of pastoring, I’ve joined the trademan club so I watch it to find out about what they are doing to my reputation! Of course I’m not a dodgy one!
When I started my own side business called ‘Mr T Plastering & Decorating’ I had to get a big white van – then I decided it needed a ‘Mr T’ logo sign written on the side. People actually over take me to have a good look to see if it is the real Mr T from the A Team! I hope I don’t disappoint when they see a skinny white bloke instead of the famous one - “I pity the fool.”
The program started me thinking about how we build church. The bible says in 1 Corinthians Ch 3, to be careful how we build because God will test the quality of each mans work. In other words he’ll find out the rogue traders, those that have tried to build by cutting corners.
I want to be sure that I build correctly and receive my eternal reward, I’m sure you’re the same too. So let’s look at Psalm 51: 10 - 13 to see how to avoid being a rouge trader.
1. Set a clean working area
When I’m plastering I need to make sure that I prepare properly, putting down the correct ground coverings. If I fail to do so, plaster falls to the ground, gets into the carpet and before long I will be treading it around the whole house.
The same is true when it comes to our heart attitude. If we are doing something with a bad attitude or wrong motive, it’s not long before we’re making tracks all over the house. Psalm 51 vs 10 says “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” It’s important that we let God refine our heart and motives as we go along this journey of life, because what’s in eventually comes out! So we should make sure that our hearts are healthy and wholesome, ready to build correctly.
2. Remember to take your packed lunch
When it comes to hunger I’m a stereo typical man. My mood dips as soon as I feel my belly rumbling. That’s why when I’m out on a job I know to take my huge, man size lunch box, packed full with goodies!
When it comes to your journey of life and building church, it’s no different, it’s vital that you refuel regularly on the journey. Psalm 51: 12 says “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” How much easier is life when you’re giving from the overflow of what God is doing in your life. There has been many times I’ve been scraping the barrel and have not had the strength to carry on, finally I’ll pause, go to God and get fueled up again. Here’s a tip – go to God each day – not when you are running low and could do with a top up. Pray and let God in on your world, chat to him and let him know about what you have got coming up, pray for wisdom and strength and declare God’s greatness and faithfulness over your situations. It’s not as though God doesn’t know what you are going through but by you telling him you surrender to his Lordship and say that you and Him are a team.
3. Always have your mind on the job at hand
If I fail to focus on plastering and maybe answer my phone mid skimming a wall – it’s game over. The plaster will set, my tools will dry rock solid and I’ll spend extra time rectifying what went wrong.
The same happens in church life when we take our focus off what we exist for. News flash - It’s not about you! Church exists for the unsaved. Psalm Ch 51 vs13 says “Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will turn back to you.” Our life is meant to draw people unto God. When we fail to remember this and start thinking about ourselves too much, we end up getting caught up in civilian rivalry, rather than what we’re really here for.
I love this scripture, especially when you read it in context. It’s just after King David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. So after allowing God to do some heart work in him, renewing a steadfast spirit within him, giving him back his joy, he now stands and declares ‘my life will be an example of your grace and mercy to draw many unto you’. Building like this is sure to stand the testing’s of God and allow you to receive your eternal reward for all your works and endeavors.
Let’s all commit to doing the next year with God’s strength, in his power and for the extension of His Kingdom. We’ve had an amazing 2007 – let’s get prayed up and ready for an incredible 2008!
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