Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

FINISH THE RACE WELL.

1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Men, fatherhood never finishes until your life is over. We begin fathering when the children start coming. Every young father should do all he can to assist his wife during “the baby years.” It is important for the father to regularly hold his baby and do his best to relate by speaking, smiling and singing.

As a loving husband, he should take every opportunity possible to assist with the extra chores that come with each newborn. Baby bonding is extremely important.

Following the baby stage, the father should seek to be involved in every possible way with his children’s lives. As important as it is for children to learn to do chores, the father should realize that all children innately love fun. A wise father will seek to be a “fun father” with his children. It is wise for a father not to be a “sober-side,” but vice versa, not to be all fun without seriousness.

Be involved and available in every stage throughout your children’s lives, even when they are grown and married with their own children. Be a great finisher! Remember, fatherhood is not finished until you are finished!

Be encouraged. Colin.

FINISH THE TASK.

Men, I believe it is manly to not only start something, but more importantly, to finish it!

Luke 14:28-29 says, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.”

The Christ who lives ...within us is the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2. Philippians 1:6 reminds us that “Being confident of this very thing that he with hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

If Jesus Christ, our great Captain, believes in finishing things, then all I can say is that this should make a big difference in us who profess we follow Him. It means to finish what we begin.

Let’s say the tower that we began to build was our marriage. Did we not first sit down and count the cost as to whether we had what it takes to perform it and complete it until “death do us part”? It is an indictment that over 50 percent, in the church, have not had sufficient fortitude, discipline, will power, love and courage to keep building until the conclusion of life.

What about the tower of raising a family for God? Did we sit down and count the cost? Again, many Christian men, for whatever unscriptural reason, haven’t got what it takes to have more than one or two children. Even then, they leave them to day care and public schools to raise.

It’s high time to have a recap on what we need to finish.

Be encouraged. Colin.

THE DAY OF GOD’S POWER.

What a testimony it would be for Christ if Christian men were the most enthusiastic workers in the nation’s work force? I could not, in the slightest way, imagine Jesus Christ doing the work God gave Him to do with a grudging attitude.

Jesus said, “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus likens His work to sustenance. Psalm ...110:3 says, “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power… thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

The Hebrew word for “willing” denotes spontaneity and abundance. This is the same attitude as enthusiasm. This is a Messianic Psalm and the Messiah in you and me has the dew of youthful freshness.

We do not have to wait for the millennium to let the world see how fresh, youthful and enthusiastic Christ is in us. Let today be "the day of His power" in you and me. Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell.

THE RICHES OF HUMILITY.

The miraculous is linked with humble men. Pride is an insidious subtle sin. We fail to recognize it in ourselves, although we are quick to recognize it in others.

The Christ of Christmas was born in a humble manger to humble parents in a humble city. He walked a humble walk, preached a humble message (Blessed are the meek and poor in spirit), died a humble death (crucified... between two thieves) was, and is the beloved Son of God. He came from glory and riches that our finite minds cannot possibly grasp but “became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

He turned the world upside down, or should I say, right side up, in order to show us men that those who seek true humility are the richest of all men, but those who seek to honor and bolster pride possess the deepest poverty.

Surrounding the humble birth of Jesus we also notice how much the miraculous is linked with humility, e.g. the angelic visitations to Mary, Joseph and the shepherds, the prophetic utterances by Elisabeth, Mary, Zacharias, Simeon and Anna, the prophetess.

It is high time for us men to repent of our pride and take to ourselves the riches of humility. Perhaps then we shall see more miracles in our families, churches and community.

Happy Christmas!

Colin Campbell.

AM I HUMBLE IN GOD’S EYES?

A number of years ago I was scheduled to speak at a Christmas celebration. As I contemplated on what to say, the Lord directed my attention to the amazing humility God displayed at the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ.

As I thought on the humble circumstances and humble people God used at this climacteric event in the history of mankind, the event that would forever after ...make a radical impact upon the world, something happened to me. All I can say is that the Christmas story will never be the same for me again. I was spiritually shaken as I realized the high estimation God places on a subject on which the world places little importance—humility.

He came from Nazareth. John 1:46, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth”?

He was born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2, “Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.”

His earthly father was a carpenter. Matthew 13:55, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”

His mother was of “low estate.” Luke 1:48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.”

He was born in a manger because “there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7). Pride has never had room for humility and never will!

The humble shepherds were alerted to the occasion of  "Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:8-17). God did not reveal this shattering news to the proud religious leaders.

The wise men from the East came saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:1-2). Where were the wise men of Israel? Too full of pride!

What a statement God made at the birth of His son. His everlasting kingdom will be forever established on the foundation of humility. The big question we must ask ourselves at this time is: am I a humble man in God’s eyes?

Be encouraged. Colin.

Genesis 39:1-6 tells us that “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man… And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand… the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake.”

THE WIMP WORKS BY THE CLOCK. He can’t wait for break time and closing time. The real man goes the second mile. He arrives early for work and is willing to work past closing time.

If a job needs to be finished, he does it with a happy and willing spirit. He knows that He is really serving the Lord who is watching and will reward him in due season if he faints not. Wow, guys—what a testimony this would be for Christ if all believers work this way.

THE WIMP DOES NOT PUT HIS HEART INTO HIS WORK for he does not have a heart to work in the first place.

The real man gives 100 percent. When you put your heart into your work it means you put your very best effort into it. This attitude should apply to all that we do. It does not matter what we are doing, whether we like the job or not, we should be the fastest worker and the best, if for no other reason than the Lord is watching!

“And the Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man” speaks volumes to me. A wrong attitude toward your employer or toward what has been given you to do can hinder the Lord from being with you and making you successful. It can hinder your prosperity and your employer’s prosperity.

Put your whole heart into whatever you do.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

FULL-TIME SERVICE.

Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Real men put their whole heart into whatever they do. Doing your work heartily and unto the Lord means to work with intensity, enthusiastically, willingly and cheerfully. You do not work grudgingly and you are not easily distracted.

Men, I believe it is so important to realize that your real Employer and Rewarder is the Lord. In this respect, you are in full-time service for Christ. If you get dismissed, or laid off, it would do well to recap your service to the Lord.

Have you been working heartily? Christian men would gain a whole lot more respect from the Lord, as well as their fellowmen, if they put this Scripture into daily practice. Even if you get laid off because the business has closed down, you can be assured the Lord will soon prosper you with another job if you have been diligently applying the above Scripture.

If you feel you have failed in your work ethic, repent, and tell the Lord that if He opens up another job for you that this time your attitude towards your work will be a lot better. Ask the Lord to help you work HEARTILY for Him.

Be encouraged. Colin

ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES AND GET STUCK IN!

Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.” Let me paraphrase this Scripture.

Whatever job or career you have, take off your coat, roll up your sleeves and get stuck in! Give it your very best shot and a bit more for good measure! Away with all this wimpiness, whether it is in the labor force, the white collar or blue collar force, the entertainment force or the church force.

A real man loathes the attitudes of lazy and slouching men who do not know how to a decent day’s work. I personally do not like to look at men who stand around when there’s work to be done. By the way, talking doesn’t get the job done!

These days, when jobs are hard to come by, why not look around for some place where they could do with some help and offer yourself free of charge? You might land yourself a good job after one week of solid, hard work! It’s better than twiddling your thumbs at home and putting a bigger burden on your wife and family because of no income coming in.

Christian men should always be the best, hard-working men on earth. They should also be the most conscientious, willing and cheerful workers.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell.