Encourage and Build Up One Another

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5: 6-11

“Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober. Those who sleep go to sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation. For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do”.

Reaction: Since I now have two pretty sure opportunities for part-time employment, I find myself slipping back into some old habits I thought I’d conquered. Lately I’ve been very preoccupied with the details of my daily schedule, as well as planning how much money I might earn and save. I know I will need to adjust my schedule to make room for the extra work hours, but I must also ensure that I still have time for daily prayer and for the opportunities to serve others that may come up unexpectedly. One thing I have learned from my meditations is to always be open to where the Lord is leading me, which may not be at all where I was planning to go! As for financial issues, it’s been pretty clear to me that the last thing I should be doing is storing up wealth. I pursued both of these jobs because I thought they would be fun, challenging, and a way to help others. I also knew that I needed to earn a little extra income to cover some unplanned expenses. So while it’s not all that bad to think about time and money, I really need to be more temperate in these matters. With this in mind, I looked for a scripture passage under the topic of Temperance, and I found a reference to 1 Thessalonians 5: 6-8.

While that particular passage didn’t really strike me, verse 11 certainly did. I recalled that both my job as a fitness instructor and as resume writer can be used to encourage and build up others. If that goal is my focus, then I believe my preoccupation with over-planning will begin to subside. I also remembered that my involvement in a recently formed Faith Sharing group is meant to inspire, uplift, and enlighten others as well as myself. Even the time I spend at ballroom dancing has had a great impact on my husband, who is quite cheered by his resulting recent weight loss and improved skills. In previous reflections I’ve noted that I need to focus on others rather than on myself; I must remember that this is still true even as I seek to adjust my life based on my new opportunities.