Toil

As I was sitting in my dorm today, I was thinking about what all of this means. What is my purpose for this blog? What is my purpose as far as being an example everyday when I stand against peer pressure, and what happens if I give in? Am I labeled a hypocrite and completely disregarded as a Christian? Will all my work have been for naught? What is all of this leading me to? Why do I have to be an example? Why cannot I be the one is saved later in life and get to do all the things that those who come to him later in life have done? Would people find me untrustworthy because I said I would not do something but then went on doing it anyway because I just wanted to be part of the crowd and have a little fun? As long as I keep my head on straight and stick to my MORALS, I will not fall into peer pressure so I should not worry about that one, being labeled a hypocrite could be seen as a form of judging and unless I am truly a hypocrite, those who are judging me are in the wrong. Where this all is leading me to remains to be seen but it is all on God's timing and I should not concern myself with it. I need to be an example because I have been set apart and called to do the work of Christ because he has bigger plans for me and those around me as long as I continue to do his work. I am not here to partake in the ways of the world because I have been called and am supposed to strive because God is who and what fulfills my soul. He brings me joy and when I am spending time with him and in his word, I am having fun. Some people like to hang out and drink, others look for their next quick fix but God is what keeps me going and brings me enjoyment. It is all about the manner in which we conduct ourselves in Christ that empowers us to work against the ways of the world and to over come doing things that we have said we would never do.

My post on toil is based on 3 verses found in Ecclesiastes 2:24-26 and they are very strong in what it means to toil for a cause because there is toil that is meaningful and toil that is meaningless. If my blog is going to have impact and meaning then I have to live a life that reflects the substance of what I post. If I am unable to do that, then I am not posting a blog worth reading because what I am saying might have validity but the worker is not blessed by the one who is the root of it all since he is not living by the Spirit. We see in this passage, "A Man can do nothing better than eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless a chasing after the wind." Why toil for a cause that is lost or for something that is not worth toiling for? It does no good to do work for something that will not reap benefits because what do you have to show forth? For example, what good does it do me to post everyday if nobody is benefitting from it? I am working for a cause I believe in but I am not willing to take part in it other than just throwing my thoughts on subjects out there for everyone to read. In a way, I am like the sinner who reaps and harvests so that others can benefit but inside I am not keeping any of it for myself and am not growing as everyone else is. I remember all those long work days in practice when it seemed like we were doing pointless things because it seemed as if nothing changed after running because everyone would just go back to their old ways, we toiled for nothing. In the same way, I worked hard my Freshman and Sophomore years in the cages and on the field but did not see the benefits on the field, I felt as though my toil was meaningless. But then I started doing stuff that made more sense my last two years and i saw significant increases because I found that I was at least working towards God a little more and he was blessing me by allowing me to have fun and doing something I love. He did not just make me a better player because I was seeking him, he just allowed me to do something that I love to do and that alone was enough to give me the drive to perform well so in a sense he did make me better but it took work on my part as well. We should all work towards the cause of Christ because in life it is the most important one we could ever work for and we should be grateful that we have the privilege to work towards the cause of Christ.

We serve an amazing God and sometimes I wish I could just escape the world because it would be so much easier but God has a better plan. Show me how to live in the world and be better than my human nature by living in his Spirit. He wants me to see that I can overcome sin and I can overcome the urge to do things I should not be doing because he is trying to show me that I am strong. I have to take the initiative and actually use the strength he has given me. I am praying for all of you and I ask that you will pray for me. There are some of you that I pray for more than you could know and it is because I care about you and want to see you succeed and be happy.

God Bless,

Joseph Robinson