Live and Let Live: And Do Something! (for God)

Live and Let Live: And Do Something! (for God)     Kelly Durant     6-8-25

1 Corinthians 3:13-15   Whatever we build on that foundation will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Then everyone will find out if we have used gold, silver, and precious stones, or wood, hay, and straw.¹⁴ We will be rewarded if our building is left standing. ¹⁵ But if it is destroyed by the fire, we will lose everything. Yet we ourselves will be saved, like someone escaping from flames.

2. There were two friends that were proud in nature and they got together for a cup of tea. The one getting served said, “I should have the pleasure of serving you!” The one serving said, “No, The pleasure is mine to serve you!” Not to be outdone, the one served said, “Well, no the pleasure is mine, to be here.” The one serving said, “But the pleasure is mine you are here”. The one getting served said, “No, the pleasure is mine that you serve me.” The one serving said, “Well, I am serving, so more the pleasure is mine. “ “The pleasure is mine” argument went on for the rest of the afternoon, ha! 

As humans we are often too competitive to show off our humility, right? I really wish people here would argue over who gets to serve! How concerned are you about how others see your humble service to God? Some a lot, some nothing! What should concern us all is how God sees you and me! Are we serving one another in love only concerned that Jesus’s work gets done?

No one here can give God any excuse for not serving God, the Word is clear that we are to serve God and one another in love. (Gal 5:13) Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

3. When we consider what serving God is like and how we all perceive it, I try to describe it as others would see it that come in from the outside to church. Picture this analogy: Think of church as a huge unconventional classroom where you have a great variety of mixed ages and grades, all different intellectual levels, all different talents, and people with all different commitments apart from the study that they are committed to. The classes are from Pre-K all the way to college, some are still illiterate and ignorant while others are honor students and giants who have done their homework and accomplished great things.

Some of the people in the group have served God for decades and are on the master’s degree level in college, and some have served off and on and are comparable to being in elementary school. There is another group of people or ones that have never listened or served and years and years have passed. They have remained in class but not with the intention of learning or obeying, so they remain in the pre-K level. They do not know anything about what it means to be in the program denying yourself for Jesus, sacrificing their time, talent, and treasure for the use of God serving others with their God given capacities.

This dedication to God gap dynamic is in all churches, and it is very hard to manage! Usually a very small group of people will serve until they drop, until they are way too exhausted and the pastors have to intervene and say, “Stop!” In the meantime, others sit quietly by and do nothing and they don’t feel any guilt about seeing others killing their selves working so hard! This is not a very fair work distribution load, right? You have heard the phrase, ‘share the wealth’? Well that has already been done by God, Jesus gives everyone or “whoever” that accepts and obeys him the wealth of eternal life. But what about ‘sharing the work?’

4. The reality is in all community groups, be they people mixed together in churches, governments, civic groups, schools, or clubs, there will always be a disparity within the group of who pulls the weight and who does not, of whom is respected for leading and who is not. Don’t think doing nothing goes un-noticed!    

Jesus was aware of this work load disparity and He never let anyone off the hook! He never allowed for an elite few to be a ‘do nothing’ class within his disciples. They all had to do the Father’s work as Jesus himself did it, preaching, praying, and serving. When He sent them out each one did as He had taught them.             

Matt 10: 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

5. An important lesson Jesus taught about serving was that He led by example, He did not just say, “You go and you do”, He went and He did, to show His followers (us) how to do it. In the end His obedience cost Him everything, and it cost the disciples as well but the results are that His works, His glory, His worthiness of adoration to sit on the right hand of God, has never been outdone by any other because He was the true Son of God! And try to absorb what love God has for you and me to have come down to our level to be one of us and then die for us! 

So what happens in the workplace when someone does not carry their load? They get fired, right? Definitely yes! But often people in power in the nations of today who do nothing, make horrible mistakes, and waste the country’s resources don’t fire their selves for a lousy job!? Today, disparity and the wrong message abounds! It’s embarrassing and infuriating when we experience people who are working but not doing their job just because they think they can get away with it! 

6. I recall one time in Atlanta a friend got a minor infraction and was in jail and needed my help to get him out with only $180. (He repaid me, ha!). I arrived at 10:00 pm and guess what time we got out? 3:00 am?! I paid at one window and then had to go to 5 different windows and they would take the paper and disappear for an hour or more, and I could see them just talking doing nothing in the back office. And these are my tax dollars at work, yeah right! And when I complained a little the attitude was, oh, complain or not you are just going to have to wait because I am in charge! How inefficient! How unjust and frustrating!  

People with the lazy proud, don’t-tell-me-anything, I-am-in charge of my life, I-am-an-untouchable attitude are destroying this society! They are everywhere, in authority positions (undeservingly), in unions, in companies, and even in churches. No wonder sloth (or laziness) is historically listed as one of the 7 deadly sins that will take you to hell! It is a sin from hell when someone remains uninvolved in the things of God. People forget all will be lost when death comes!

Do nothing people with zero initiative for Jesus & church will be very embarrassed on judgment day. Luke 12:47 “And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes”. In other words, those that have heard that they need to obey Jesus week after week, year after year and do nothing will suffer a hotter hell than those who never knew. How much do you really fear God? Honestly, not everyone does!

7. What did Jesus say to the good servant with the talents when he invested his time like money for God’s use? Matthew 25:20-21, 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

But the one that did nothing for God, what happened? Matt 25: 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Not applying your life to Jesus use when you know deep inside you are called to do it will cost you a punishment that is horribly beyond imagination!

8. Referring back to the verses of today in I Cor.3:13-15, Paul warns Christians not to be building personal kingdoms that are like straw that will be burnt up but rather be investing in God’s work.  Doing God’s work serving and sharing the gospel is like investing in gold and jewels, the souls saved are the jewels and only the things done for God on earth will last in heaven. 

On the History Channel or in Science Journals we discover the speculation of how the earth would be destroyed in the future. They all point to fire! It could be by a solar flare or a plasma, a massive earthquake with lava, a massive volcano, a comet strike, a nuclear meltdown, WW III, and a dozen other ways (which we can read about in the book of Revelation).  Prophecy is real and we can see it here…

2 Peter 3:12 “You should look forward to the day when God judges everyone, and you should try to make it come soon. On that day the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and everything else will melt in the heat.” 

There will come a day when everyone will lose everything and everything ever built on earth will be burnt up on that day, but soul and life energy are eternal. So saved people who worked so hard for the materialistic things of vanity, and invested little in God’s work, they will be saved, but like a person running out of their house on fire! They will have their life saved, but no valuables. Those who work for God though, will have their souls and works invested in the new heaven!

9. Another problem with the group dynamic of some people doing good and God’s work is that others not doing much are provoked to jealousy. When there is a person who shows up often to do the work, the others who do not want to appear as not doing enough start criticizing the ones who are doing good?!  

Gossip happens at the workplace, on the news, and in the churches from those who put down others so they appear more than them. People will say, “Oh they work so hard here because they are interested in some personal gain”. “ I don’t trust them”, and the people murmur, asking, why is this person recognized, and I am not?, “I have been here longer than these new ones”. 

10. It is not a Christian value to put others down in order to lift yourself up. When someone does something good, something of value for God, we should all praise them and share the glory with them. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. In other words, be thankful others help and do God’s work, recognize them and honor them! No one is getting glory for their vanity.

But in the end, no one answers to the Officers (pastors), or to anyone but to God for all of what they do! None of us are wise enough to judge motives and who is the most dedicated. So, if someone is doing something that helps God’s work, then my message is ‘More power to them’, and ‘Live and let live!’  

Like in the verses of the message theme from Mark 9:38, the disciples were concerned that some people were doing what they thought only they could be doing, and that was casting out devils, and what did Jesus say? 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

11. William Booth coined the phrase, “Do something!” Everyone that is doing something good, something for God, something in the way of helping others as a testimony so they learn about God’s goodness, is doing God’s work; and the only feelings we should have for them is gratitude that they are serving God and humanity in need. Agreed?

The main attraction of our Corps, and of the dozens of ministries in The Salvation Army, is that we are people who serve, we serve the needy with food, shelter, with relief in disasters, and most of all spiritually with council, prayer, Bible classes, camps, and rehab. People who love churches with the main focus on the praise band, or on the pastor, or on how to get rich quick, who never do anything for others except their selves for their own recognition are not attracted to our serving ‘others’ focus and our uniform wearing ‘Heart to God, Hand to Man’ calling.

12. To do work that goes unnoticed and ignored by the vast majority in society, ignored by the anti-Christ press, ignored even by Christian brothers who are friends is a humbling discouraging thing. Not everyone can survive doing good works year after year doing what could appear to be unappreciated and ignored. But, if you are doing it for Jesus, you do not care for what the world thinks or says, you just do it because ‘you love Him because He first loved you!’

We are in a tug-o-war against serious evil and the enemy is gaining strength because many Christians who ‘know to do good and are not doing it’, and they are not pulling their weight here in the Church (Corps), or in the community. So by disappointing God, they (possibly you) are storing away for their selves judgment and a punishment for their proud selfishness, lack of commitment, lack of obedience, and unashamed ‘do nothing’ laziness.   

Do you feel conviction today to do more for God? It is a decision day today, you must choose Jesus as your Savior first and then trust God that He will give you the strength to do things you normally wouldn’t do. Don’t let your life pass by and be like the one who escaped a burning house with only his life. Invest in heaven now! 

Feel Weak? You Are Useful to God!

Feel Weak?  You Are Useful to God!                                               By Kelly Durant   5-19-13

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

2. How many of you have known of disabled people serving in The Salvation Army? I have! All people in life need to be used by God, we are inherently born this way! Everyone wants God to work through them! And He will if we step out by faith!

You have seen this video of the man with no arms and legs, Nick Vujicic, right? Imagine, with his condition, he does great things and is an inspirational speaker! Most people imagine that someone in his condition would never leave home! But he is full of life and inspired, happy and used by God, speaking in public places and travelling. What an amazing man of God used by God despite no arms and legs!

3. One of the first things I noticed and liked about The Salvation Army when I first got involved was that they had a variety of strange characters (even bearded ones, elderly ones) serving in disasters. Then, after visiting their churches, I saw many characters on fire for God out of rehab. No matter the age or health problems, people were serving others and each one was happy to help. I love seeing others get a second chance, how about you?

For example, with Hurricane Rita while in Lake Charles, right after serving in Katrina, I met a man that had metal rods in his entire back because all of the cartilage of his spine had degenerated. He walked rather straight like this (rigid). He had been through a rehab for heavily using cocaine and he said to not be depressed he would find ways to volunteer his time. In disaster service you can find people with all kinds of personal problems, but they are made happy while serving others, making new friends, and hearing about the gospel. God will use anyone willing, no impediments matter!

4. The way to be happy is to make someone else happy! You have heard that simple formula, right? But do you know what makes people happiest? It is to find out that no matter how ugly they may look, no matter how bad their physical problems, weaknesses, or handicaps, there is a God of love that loves them and can still use them despite their conditions and faults! No one wants to feel like life is over, that brings on mortal depression! 

I have always believed that God is a God who cares for the weakest of the weak, and in the world there are a lot of hurting and weak people! We are here as representatives of Jesus to help heal and give meaning and purpose to the lives of everyone we meet. That is what the kingdom of God is about! In the Salvation Army we, and it should be this way with any Christian, carry out activities in which everyone is valued and included with no discrimination of any kind. We must fight to maintain this standard!

5. But for work in society, you are discriminated against considering your past training, capacity, and education amongst other factors. We are an Army but of volunteers and we are made up of wounded healers; But the military Armies of the world, only accept young fit men and women to serve. These requirements exclude about 80% of the population! However, God’s word makes it clear He rejects no one, rather he specializes in the rejects!

When you look at the population at large in the U.S., the majority of the people are either weak, older, or disabled. Even worse they are often depressed and spiritually incapable, or unwilling to do anything for anyone else due to embarrassment, or impediments, from allergies or whatever, not to mention laziness or selfishness. In this country currently about 50% of the people get government support for being either retired or incapacitated somehow. That is a lot when you think about it!

So when we read… 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;…what can we conclude? 

6. That God needs on this earth a people group, an organization, a movement, (or a kingdom of God as Jesus frames it) that is made up of anyone who (whosoever will theology) will …may serve! And if you are not in such good shape mentally or physically, be happy and encouraged! God specifically wants you to serve and be of value! God loves and uses misfits!

When we consider the foolish things or people of the world, not many people here are scholars that can discuss the pious platitudes of philosophy or theology, so it is a comfort that God is not concerned about our education level, or even our physical condition, he just loves us and wants us to be useful and active for Him. In the end we are taking in breath from day to day to serve in the mission to win souls to Jesus, otherwise our lives are just wasted by not preparing for eternity. 

7. How can we not be proud of the Salvation Army for being willing to work with the lowest of the low, the homeless, the addicts, and the ones with HIV? In other countries our line of service includes taking into refuge homes orphans and prostitutes. Your upper class suburban churches do not make these types of people their specialty! But Christians should focus on the despised and the weak, which is where God’s blessings are at!

My wife and I visited several of the rich mega churches in Atlanta and some boldly proclaim they are called to reach the rich middle upper class baby boomers. Hispanics, blacks, and poor (sinners) seemed to not even be in their radar! What a poor and ignorant vision! Ultra-rich churches intimidate the weak and poor! When something is so big you lose the sense of family, I think it is time to break it down into more manageable groups as Moses did in Joshua 14:4-6. Delegation and division allows more attention to each one.

So when we read in 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: Can we not conclude that some Christians do not have the right focus since they are targeting the opposite people of the verses we are studying today? Is the exclusivity to one group the non-discriminatory attitude a Christian should have?  Obviously not! Too many people live in a comfort zone that has them stagnant being ineffective!

8. There is a serious problem within Christianity, too few Christians are actually reading the Bible and obeying what it says, to seek out the low base things of the world and then empowering them to serve in God’s Kingdom.

Three out of every four Americans see poverty as a big issue but Christians interviewed only showed 1 out of 2 believing it concerned them. However, about 83% of evangelical Christians claimed to be involved in helping the poor. What is wrong is that 2 in 3 Christians believe the government should take care of the poor, not them! (See Barna Research Group) But God called us to care for the widows & poor, and even give them a place to serve: The low are the despised, the rejected, the weak, these are the ones God can use! 

For the most part we can be proud of our churches as everyone who comes here regularly does what they are capable of doing, here or in the community, teaching, cooking, and sorting donated food for the poor, visiting the rest homes as well. But we have a long way to go yet to get the local community to do that as well! This community is a challenge, what can we do to get them more involved? Volunteers are always too few! 

I have often wondered; what do disabled or retired people do all day? Wal-Mart’s are full night and day, but in the daytime most beaches or parks are only full of tourists, so what is going on with people everywhere? Where are they all day?

9. You may know a few people who have government support, so tell me what do they do all day? God wants to use them for something good but I have a feeling many people are just deaf to this calling. They have ‘ears to hear’ but they do not hear how God loves them and wants them busy with things that make their lives and the world better. Those indifferent are wasting their time giving them a meaningless life. We must invite them to serve for the fact that God uses the weak. 

We should warn those who waste their time all day. Our society and Christian heritage was built with an attitude and spirit of great sacrifice but more and more people are failing to maintain the volunteer spirit of sacrifice and pureness having a love for God and a love for their neighbor in the community as they should. Being unproductive in the work of God is a sin, especially when you know you should be doing good, and you are not doing it.

Consider these verses that are basic warnings to the people (even Christians) that are excusing their selves for not giving their time in something for God because they think they are too busy or too old, too sick or too handicapped, or living in denial that they are just plain rebellious, selfish, and lazy. Not even pandemics should stop our service to God!

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. I Tim 5: 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.  Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

10. Never think there is nothing for you to do for God! Invite your friends! Do you realize how many people have started coming to church because they first volunteered? I think I told you I came to know the Salvation Army by volunteering for disaster service. 

But people in these past few decades have become self-complacent, people with nothing to do are not giving their time for something noble. This is a sad new cultural trend! It is up to us to be salt and light and to teach others to serve God, and God wants those who are weak to serve despite anything.

Here is a truth: you cannot make yourself any better without first investing in someone else.   

In the end, everyone you know that is weak, everyone that seems not-so-pretty, to be of the nature most people would think they are nobodies, these are the very people God wants and uses! God specializes in using the low, the base, the ugly, the despised, and the not-so-bright. So, if you think you are not worth much, cheer up, you are very wrong, you are one of God’s chosen! Pray now to ask God how to serve Him. Then speak up and let’s get started!