To build our character our heavenly Father allows hardship. We learn the most from hard knocks that  chisel away any weakness while the disappointment builds perseverance, strength, faith, and the purpose that comes from serving God and others. The most satisfying of all life’s blessings are truly forged through personal effort, struggle, and selfless serving. The best things in life are rarely free of personal labor. We must dig the glimmering gold of life out of the rocks with our own hands. The blessing is NOT found in the possessing of a thing, but in the work required to own it. The glaring truth of the Gospel is that our Lord Jesus lived a life of hard labor and selfless service. His life and death delivered the reality that it is in fact more gratifying to give than to receive.

The greed of a certain tribe of Joseph boldly came to Joshua with a complaint about their allotment in the promised land.  “Why have you given us a lesser portion?” Joshua replied, “As descendants of great people, go work to clear land, and  drive out the enemy and take possession.”  As we are also chosen by God, our greatest blessing comes as we work out our salvation. We then win the crown, and a permanent residence that God has prepared for us. In scripture we learn of God’s heart in small and eternal matters. This ancient tribe felt entilitled so they sought more favor.  They hoped to be recognised as a superior above others.  They wanted prominence and wealth without any effort of their own.  Inherently they felt that they deserved more favor.  Believers often pray for more, without being thankful for all Jesus has already provided. If we are unwilling to fight spiritual battles, or make sacrifices, we miss the richer blessings God intends. 

We cannot substitute prayer for effort. We must humble ourselves in order to receive greater spiritual rewards. God will give us our inheritance as we work for it. Our personal promised land must be won, every inch of it.  We must conquer our temptations and by faith walk worthy. We discipline our own faith, as we learn patience, gentleness, and self-control. No person can give us a larger portion of God’s favor. This deep truth is found in the parable of the wise virgins who refused to give their oil to those whose lamps were lacking. We must work to keep adequate oil to burn bright night or day.  We never know when the Master will return.

The wise virgins could not share. “Go sell and buy oil for yourselves. We have not enough for us and you.” The Word teaches us that grace is not transferable. It cannot be passed from soul to soul. The wise could not give of their oil to the foolish.  Even God cannot give us holiness, peace, and the rich results of victorious living without our own struggle, battle, or self-denial.  “God works in us both to will and to do.” The virgins parable tells us this up front:  “Work out your own salvation.” God works in us only when we work at His bidding. Jesus invites us to be His friend, and by His example, He never did for His disciples what He expected them to do for themselves. The best kindness Joshua showed His relatives was to send them out to do the things they were equipped to do.  It was far better to send them to drive out enemies with iron chariots and conquer the valley for themselves, than to send an army to make the conquest for them. Our best friends are not those who make life easy for us. Our best friends are those who speak the truth in love, who correct us, and expect us to trust God as we grow in faith and courage through the trial.

Thousands of lives are stunted and harmed by pampering. Parents often, in their warm and eager love, hinder growth in the lives of their offspring. We must learn from Joshua and the virgins to not prevent the flow of God’s plan by over-helping. We must encourage all students to learn the lesson only found in doing a thing poorly.  Do not  interefere and thereby omit the struggles, their blistered effort, their hardships. Teachers are in constant danger of prohibiting God’s perect intention by over-helping. When someone we love comes to us with a problem, love’s first impulse is to solve it for them. However, it would be a thousand times kinder if we helped them find a way to solve it for themselves. Good teachers awaken a students undiscovered powers, as we encourage their own mind to figure it out. A student who earns their own fortune, also gains trained abilities, strength, discipline, self-reliance, and all the qualities that belong to a noble character.

If the student simply receives the money, they miss all the lessons and all the personal growth they would have gained through the struggle and the accomplishment. Money, real estate, stocks and bonds are not the true possessions in life.  The external does not reflect the internal condition of soul. To be weighed by God, we strive not to be found wanting anything.  As a soul earns its own way, it grows. The striving, the effort of straining to gain the prize, is always a greater blessing than the result one works to achieve. According to Biblical examples, it is a greater kindness to encourage someone to break open hard rocks and find water for themselves than to bring them water that another person has lifted.  God’s wise way of dealing with us, is NOT in making our life easy.

Our Father does not promise to lift every burden from our shoulders, even when we cast it upon Him. When we realize that our burden is God’s gift to us, we thank Him for the blessing of working it out. It would be unkind of God to take all burdens instantly away. Did God make it easy for Jesus? In the garden of Gethsemane, our Father’s wise love issued increased strength into the troubled heart of His Son.  God’s purpose is always to teach us by His example. God does not answer our prayer by clearing away the hurdles that challengeus. He put the sword of truth into our hands. His Word tells us to ask for discernment, wisdom, perseverance, and to speak faith to our mountains. While we work out our salvation, we grow healthy and strong through our effort. God came down from oppulence to walk among us. His suffering opens doors for us. 

Jesus does not drive out our enemies for us. We were gifted faith, and the humble example of sacrifice. We have the shield of faith and all the armor we need to overcome and take back whatever the enemy plots to steal.  The struggle does us good. The wrestling makes us strong. We therefore do not demand favors or privileges, but we make use of all God gifted us.  Jesus provided immense favor as His blood entitles us to walk in His Spirit.  A Commander honors the best regiment on the field, not by assigning His warriors an easy post, or a duty away from danger. He honors it by giving the warriors the dangerous post. Their position requires the most splendid courage. The place of honor is always the hardest place. It is where the most hard duty must be done and where the heaviest burden of responsibility must be carried. It is never a real honor to be given an easy place. We earn our place of honor through worthy deeds of service to our Lord.  The disciples competed for the highest positions. They wanted Jesus to simply appoint them to sit at His right and left hand. The Commanders answer was that souls are not appointed to high positions in spiritual life.  Even Jesus could not give any disciple rank or position in His kingdom. On earth, rulers may put their favorites in places of honor. We see unworthy souls are placed in high positions. High positions are never given to people in the kingdom of God. Our Lord explained the principle on which places are assigned to His disciples. “Whoever would become great among you shall be your minister, and whoever would be first among you shall be your servant.”

Our rank in Christ’s kingdom depends on our service. The one who serves others, is the highest among people. We must use our abilities, and our gifts  to do the most good for others. Any self-seeking spirit reveals a lack of good character. Good character seeks to serve.  The law of love means we must use whatever we have to serve our fellow human beings. Even the least talented soul who uses their small ability to help others is higher in God’s sight than the most highly talented person. The most highly gifted life this world ever saw was that of Jesus Christ, and yet Jesus demanded no recognition from people, nor did He claim any rank. He never said His humble position was too small or too narrow for His great abilities. Jesus used His greatness to do good and to bless the world. He washed people’s feet with hands that angels would have kissed. He was the greatest among human beings, and He was the servant of all. The true purpose of greatness, is to serve.