{"id":4758,"date":"2018-10-21T12:47:05","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T12:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/kpyohannan\/?p=4758"},"modified":"2018-11-09T07:27:22","modified_gmt":"2018-11-09T07:27:22","slug":"hardworking-diligent-servant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/kpyohannan\/2018\/10\/hardworking-diligent-servant\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does It Mean to Be a Hardworking Servant?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

A day in the life of a farmer starts early and ends late. It\u2019s full of activity, most of which is physical labor\u2014there are cows to milk, fields to plow, machinery to fix. The duties are endless and the day is tiring, but he continues to work day after day.<\/p>\n

Why? <\/em>Because he knows that if he works hard, he will see the rewards in the harvest he reaps.<\/strong> That motivation keeps him going.<\/p>\n

Paul likens the servant of God to a farmer in 2 Timothy 2:6\u2014\u201cThe hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.\u201d <\/em>Our perspective toward the ministry should be the same\u2014one of seizing the time and working hard, with the result of our labor in mind.<\/p>\n

\"What<\/a><\/p>\n

Paul didn\u2019t just say a farmer but a hardworking <\/em>farmer. Why is this? Because not all farmers are hardworking!<\/p>\n

There are many today who desire to do great things for the Lord, many who have received ample training and have been placed in positions of great privilege where it would be easy to accomplish something significant, yet their lives produce no fruit! <\/strong><\/p>\n

Why? Because they simply are lazy. <\/em>My brothers and sisters, this is a tragedy! In all things we are called to imitate Christ.<\/em><\/p>\n

Imitators of Christ are Hardworking<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Since we are called to imitate Christ, let us then get up and follow our Lord who, too, was hardworking:<\/p>\n