Dr. Sanoop Kumar Sherin Sabu
Sometimes, we become so comfortable in our Christian life that we forget to ask ourselves a very important question:-
Are we truly working out our salvation?
Yes, salvation is a gift. We cannot earn it by our own works. We are saved by the grace of God through faith.
But then comes the challenging exhortation Paul gives in Philippians 2:12: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
What does it mean to work out our salvation?
Jesus gives us a beautiful picture in the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11–27).
A master gives his servants minas and then goes away. When he returns, he asks them what they have done with what he entrusted to them.
The mina may not simply be money or talents of Prophesy or teaching. In our day to day lives, it can represent everything God has placed in our hands:
- Our life.
- Our health.
- Our family.
- Our Children
- Our work.
- Our time.
- Our abilities.
- Our resources.
- Our opportunities.
- Our gifts.
- Our grace.
- And above all, the Gospel entrusted to us.
What God gives to each person is different.
Some may receive much. Others may receive very little. But the question is not, “How much did I receive?”
The question is: “What did I do with what God gave me?”
We often think about the second coming of Christ as a day when we will meet our Master. But perhaps we should also ask ourselves:
When He comes, what will He find that we have done with what He entrusted to us?
Our salvation is not something we earn by multiplying our works. Rather, the salvation we have received by grace should produce a life that bears fruit.
Every day, we are given another opportunity to live for Christ.
Another day of life.
Another opportunity to love someone.
Another chance to forgive.
Another person to serve.
Another opportunity to share the Gospel.
Another chance to use our gifts for God’s kingdom.
Yet, in the busyness of professional life, family responsibilities, financial pressures and our pursuit of comfort, it is easy to become spiritually comfortable.
We can spend our entire lives multiplying our money, building our careers, improving our homes and securing our future— while doing very little with what God has entrusted to us for eternity.
Perhaps this is why Paul says, “with fear and trembling.”
Not the fear of losing God’s love, or being condemned, but the holy fear of standing before our Master one day and realizing that we buried what He gave us.
Realizing that we dint use of Family, children, time, profession, money for Working Out our salvation in Christ!
I don’t want to reach that day having lived only for myself.
I don’t want to hear: “You wicked servant.”
I want my life to say: “Lord, You gave me something, and I tried to use it for You and to Work Out My Salvation with Trembling and fear.”
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