Tools are essential to any occupation. Whether a woodworker, gardener, automobile mechanic, bricklayer, or accountant, the ability to produce an end-product relies heavily upon the worker’s tools. Tools also come in a variety of sizes and shapes, each designed for a specific purpose. Furthermore, through study and experience, the worker must train to use his various tools effectively and efficiently.
The practical Christian life is in some ways not unlike an occupation, in which the Christian has tools with which he must work. As an employer might provide the necessary tools for an employee, God has provided each Christian with the necessary tools for the Christian walk. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” Paul, in Philippians 2:12 says, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” And in 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” The Christian faith is not a passive, inactive faith, it is an engaging active faith – a faith wherein God works in the life of the individual, and one wherein the individual works as a worker in God’s Kingdom. As Kingdom workers, we have all the necessary tooling provided to us by our King. What are these tools we find in the toolbox of our faith?
First, God has given to us the tool of self-examination. Much like a diagnostic tool, self-examination is the capacity to test the internal workings of our hearts to determine whether or not we are in a right relationship to God. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul says to Christians, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.”
We live in a world full of influences and philosophies that can sometimes weaken our faith or divert us from a focussed faith in Jesus Christ. Thankfully God has given us a tool whereby we can diagnose the strength and the focus of our faith – a tool called “self-examination” – an important tool in the Christian toolbox.
Second, God has given to us the tool of belief. Much is realized in the Christian life through believing in the power of God. Prayer, for example, when accompanied by belief, is very powerful and very effective in overcoming obstacles, doubts, fears and temptations in the Christan walk. Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Belief is the tool that moves a person’s heart from trusting in self to trusting in God, and with God, nothing is impossible.
Third, God has provided us with the tool of prayer. Similar to belief, prayer is a powerful tool in that it moves the sovereign hand of God to intervene into otherwise hopeless situations. Prayer plugs the struggling human heart into a divine source of power. James 5:16b-18 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” When building bridges over and through difficult experiences of life, prayer is an essential tool.
Fourth, God has given to us the tool of thankfulness. This tool may seem insignificant at first, but when used often, it maintains a God-pleasing alignment of the heart and attitude in the Christian life. An unthankful heart, combined with an attitude of cynicism and negativity will render any Kingdom worker ineffective. Christians who allow themselves to slip into mindsets of ungratefulness and negativity often do much damage, both in their own lives and in the Church. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thankfulness services our faith as an oil-can services a transmission. Without adequate oil, a transmission grows loud, squeaky, and eventually inefficient. Without thankfulness, Christians grow loud, squeaky and eventually inefficient in building effective testimonies that reflect Christlikeness and impact the world for Him. The oil-can of thankfulness is an essential tool in the Christian’s toolbox.
Fifth, God has given to us the amazing tool of serving – that is, the capacity to serve God, and serve others. We can call this the tool of delivery. The tool of serving enables the Christian to convert that which is internal to that which is external. In other words, serving is the tool that delivers that which we believe into that which we do. We believe in loving God and loving others – serving is the tool that delivers that love into action. We believe in loyalty and faithfulness – serving is the tool that delivers that loyalty and faithfulness into our relationships with God and with people. 1 John 3:18 says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Without serving, the Christian faith would be a faith of mere words and good intentions without any mechanism of delivering the faith to the lost and dying world. Thankfully, God has equipped His people of the faith with this necessary tool of serving – the tool which, in the end, delivers Christ to the world and builds God’s Kingdom.
Dear Christian, you have no reason to ever feel ill-equipped as a worker in God’s Kingdom. God has equipped your faith with all the necessary tools needed for a life pleasing to Him. You are adequately supplied to “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”, and to deliver the faith to those around you. As God continues His work in you, continue on in your journey of working for Him. Together, “We are Christ’s ambassadors; God making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Rod Tribiger
Kelowna, BC
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