Spiritual Strength
Does not all this need power, that is, spiritual strength? Certainly it does, and it is to be found in the risen, ascended One to whom we are united, as well as in whom we are accepted, and to whom we belong. For all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Him, and His "grace is sufficient" for us. His "strength is made perfect in weakness," so we must neither excuse ourselves, nor be discouraged. We who look to Him "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth" us. He loves us (as a man loves himself) as part of Himself.
Let us not be misled by a frequent misquotation of Rom. 12:11 as telling us to be "diligent in business." It does not say so. Read it carefully, "not slothful in business," and in the J.N.D. translation, "as to diligent zealousness, not slothful." For I am persuaded that many of us are, by misquoting this scripture, falling into the snare of covetousness, or greediness for gain. This is a very different thing from diligently giving all of our time and energy to making money—greedy for gain, and little or no thought of serving the Lord in business. We are not only being robbed of much joy in the Lord, but are injuring others and turning them out of the way by our example.
In Luke 12, our blessed Lord says to us: if inclined to anxiety as to providing necessary things for self or family, don't take anxious thought about these things. And in Matthew, when speaking to His own in the Sermon on the Mount, He tells us to seek first the things of God—the kingdom. Then all that is necessary, that with which we are to be content, that which the ravens and lilies get from Him, shall be added unto us. That precious expression of His loving care for us comes in to encourage us, for "your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." Luke 12:30.
May we consider these things and the Lord give us understanding in all this. His love for us is great and gracious and unchanging, as told out on the cross and it still goes on towards us now from His throne on high. May this love so constrain our hearts that we may put Christ and God's things first. Let us not live unto ourselves, but unto Him who died for us and rose again, and enjoy the great gain of godliness with contentment.