“CURSED BE HE that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” Jeremiah‬ ‭48:10‬ ‭KJV‬‬Deceitfully is better translated “carelessly or negligently”. This was said with respect to the Chaldeans, who were to destroy the Moabites. The prophet Jeremiah called this the work of the Lord, because He had given them a commission to do it. It was to be done by them fully and faithfully; they were not to spare them, as Saul negligently did the Amalekites.

We are not Chaldean and this is not the time of the OT prophets, however this is a general rule, which may be applied to all work and service to the Lord. Every Christian has work to do for God. He has given us gifts and talents that He expects us to use for His kingdom. This is why you cannot boast in a work. He gave that gift to you and He gives you the grace to do it. What have you done but either be obedient or disobedient? “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” I Corinthians‬ ‭4:7‬

Some are called to the public arena and some to the private, but your work for the Lord should be done in uprightness and sincerity, with all faithfulness and integrity. Yet, the above Word says it can be done “deceitfully”. What is meant by this? It is done deceitfully when men play the hypocrite. A hypocrite in antiquity was an actor in a play. You appear one way to the public eye, but behind closed doors you have a completely different persona. You appear one way for social media, but misrepresent yourself.

We are considered negligent when we are lukewarm and half-hearted in our work and service to Him and infrequent in the performance of it. Why do anything if you are only going to do it half-way and half of the time? A half-tarred road is useless. It will wear out the tires on one side of the car throwing off the whole alignment. Then, we are completely negligent or rather “unprofitable” when we do nothing with the great gifts that God has give us. Jesus taught a parable on this very thing:“His Lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:26, 30‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jeremiah told them that negligence to do this work for the Lord would bring upon them the curse of God. The curse is repeated to confirm the matter, that it might be most assuredly expected; since it would certainly come, if the Lord’s work was not done faithfully. The loving and merciful Savior of the world, Jesus, confirms the prophet’s words, “cast out the unprofitable servant”. Scripture comes full circle. It begs the question: are you using the talents God has given you?

Are you faithfully doing the work God has appointed to you? Stop looking at another’s field. You are not called to their field, you are called to your field. You may not be a corn farmer, but an orange farmer. These crops do not require the same water, soil, nutrients, amount of sun, etc.

You don’t plant different seeds in all the same seasons and they certainly don’t harvest at the same time. You don’t have the same gifts as others. I’ve tried to be like another and do what they do. I’m not anointed for their work. I’m anointed to do the work He has given me. Don’t covet another’s work and don’t mock how they do the work given to them. You are responsible for your work only. Use the talents God has given you for His kingdom and for His glory. It takes zero talent to be faithful. #runyourrace

To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page