Isaiah 50:4 The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

I struggle when I try and take on another person’s role. There is a shortage of workers. I see it, I recognize it and my wish is that nothing should go undone. With time and energy spent trying to be something I am not, I become less than what I am called to do. Seeking an answer to this dilemma I search the Word. This is what was found.

Isaiah 50:2a Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?

The absence of a fellow worker does not in any way shorten the arm of the Lord. He is able and His use of man as fellow workers is based in His love for us. It is His wish that we can do things together. Love is inclusive. If a fellow worker fails to show up, it does not diminish God’s love.

Are you weary? Be of good cheer, the end is in sight. Rise up, be refreshed, put on a cheerful countenance and come join your fellow workers.

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;

Opening up my Biblegateway app I see the verse of the day. This strikes me odd. Isn’t strife and vainglory the same thing? Don’t both produce results that are not showing Christ? Were they two different things with the same results or did Paul add or vainglory as a way for us to understand the complexities of strife? If so why couldn’t Paul have just used one word to explain?

So I went to the Greek and looked up the word used from strife. I was totally surprised to see the definition is electioneering. Politics, now if that isn’t the perfect example of vainglory, what is?

But is the real issue self-promotion? In these times when nothing is being done to promote the kingdom in a world filled with fear and emotional distress, when violence seems more reasonable than peace, where self-interest is required before action is taken, doesn’t someone have to stand up and try?

What really lies at the bottom of the problem? What can I do, what should we do to move in the right direction, to achieve that which we know is right, noble and just? I think Paul was trying to tell us, but we failed to understand the importance of those words.

Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Not just look, but do you see Christ at work?