Some say that God's workers should have humility and vigilance. If a servant of God doesn't keep watch, it will give the devil a foothold.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1 Peter 5:8-10)
Jabez Wang, a pastor of a local church of Shenyang, shared that Christians should be alert in three aspects for their own lives in ministry.
Watchful for the Lord's Second Coming
Citing Matthew 25:1-13, the parable of the ten virgins, Rev. Wang warned Christians to keep in mind that the Lord will come again. The Lord said of His second coming, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42)
The pastor claimed that the Second Coming should be one of the topics most concerning today's churches and a church without attention on His return is doomed to lose hope and vitality. The preparation for His coming should be the church's primary responsibility. So the church should be alert and take oil in jars. Paul also reminded the church not to sleep and avoid spiritual sleep while waiting for the Second Coming.
Watchful of your talents
Rev. Wang shared that God's servant should use his talents diligently to be ready to give an account to the Lord, according to the parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30. There will be two endings for God's servants. The Lord sincerely advised us to be good and faithful servants, not wicked and lazy ones.
The pastor said that we should be diligent to work and not hide our talents and gifts given by the Lord. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Watchful of your love
Then he reminded Christians to be watchful of whether they have love because God judges everyone according to His love, quoting the judgment of all the nations written in Matthew 25:41-46.
He explained that love can be reflected in the outward deeds of a Christian with Christ's life. The Lord's teachings tell us to show Christ's love to one of the least of Christians, but we always express our so-called love to big figures and that may not be remembered by the Lord.
