My father was a crew leader or contractor, as they were called. We traveled with him as he transported workers up and down the eastern seaboard to work on farms and plantations. We lived in chicken coops and 10 x 12 tin shelters. We made mattresses out of hay and prayed we killed all the red bugs and chinches. At home in Belle Glade, we worked in the bean fields, packed corn, hoed lettuce, or cut celery. At the end of the day we would all be covered in the muck from head to toe. We were all one color, black and black. Thus, we became known as muck steppers. But this was our life. It was the only life we knew. Amazingly, we didn’t consider that this was the lowest of American lifestyles. We were born into it. We were a strong people because we had a resolve to survive, whatever the day brought our way. We overcame hardship and cultural ignorance.
Though on the season, (which is what we called times of harvest) we never spent more than two months in one place, but we managed to get an education. There was nothing to complain about. This was our life. We dealt with it. When I compare my life now with that which was, how do I dare complain? When I compare the life I live in America with that of Christians in other hostile nations, how do I find it in me to murmur? Is it that migrants and seasonal farm workers living in the worst of conditions are able to produce a resolve to find peace and contentment in the life they were born into and the saints of God are not able to find that peace and resolve in Christ?
St.Matthew 6:6-8
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
All would agree that the Father is a loving God. According to the above, He already knows what you have need of. He is your Father. If you do not have the things you need, you ought to ask yourself, why. The Lord has spoken as to what His position is. His implication is that you do not have to spend a lot of time asking Him for things, because He already knows what you need. Now he goes on to say, pray on this wise. …Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (St.Matt 6:9-13).
We are to pray about the Kingdom of God, the will of God, the Word of God, forgiveness and deliverance. These are all spiritual things. Our daily bread is the Word of God. For we live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Now if you insist on the bread here being natural, then take note of the fact that He wants us to expect only enough for one day at a time. At that rate we won’t have any surpluses. Let’s go to the bottom line here. Are you in agreement with this prayer? Are you prepared to surrender your life and lifestyle to God? Do you trust Him to be a God of all consolation, even if He only supplies that which you need day by day? If honesty is to be the judge here, most of you would answer no. Remember, the scriptures are true and God’s Word is sure.
1 Timothy 6:3-8
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
These verses are pretty straight forward. The gospel of Christ is one of godliness, not material gain. But to be holy and content is great gain. Then Paul warns Timothy to be content with just having food and clothing. To the church of the Philippians he said, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil 4:11-13).
Beloved, you must answer truthfully. Do these scriptures reflect your heart? Are you content with whatsoever you have? Would you be at peace if God allowed you to be abased and needy before men? Or, maybe it is your belief that it is not the will of God for His children to experience such. Well, my word to you would be, “Why was He so inclined to allow Paul and the other disciples to experience such? Surely these were holy men. I will concede that it is not the will of God for all to suffer the need of material things. There are those who are financially blessed and have come to the realization that God wants to use them to make provisions for the spreading of His gospel. These are the people He is able to trust with great wealth, for they are not lovers of money. Instead, they know the purpose for which it is given. But let’s get back to you. Are you in agreement with this Word? Are you able to let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee?(Heb 13:5).
There are those in the Body who have been blessed to work full time in the ministry. However, many ministries are small and poor in material wealth. They struggle day to day to pay the bills and keep the lights on. When the economy is bad, the ministry suffers. When summer months call for vacations and family reunions, the ministry suffers. When fall calls the children back to school and the holidays call for gift giving, the ministry suffers.
Therefore, it might be hard for one to look to their job in the ministry to supply retirement investments or sometimes even a small savings account. If this is the reality God has appointed you to, then it is expedient for you to be content in leaving the care for your well-being in the hands of the Lord. In a session with some of my staff members I shared the mind of Christ. If you have committed to working for the ministry and are unable to do some of the things you would like, it is not good for you to constantly complain, always murmuring and grumbling about finances.
If God is providing a roof over your head, clothes on your back and food to eat, then He has more than fulfilled His promise to those who commit to His service. If you want more, but still want to work for the ministry, then it would be better for you to seek out a part-time job that would not hinder your ministerial duties. But to remain in the employment of the Lord constantly complaining is a gross insult to the Father. Your discontentment negates all worthiness to receive the blessings of God. It breeds envy and strife in you. Especially if others in God’s employment seem to fare far better than you. A root of bitterness will lay hold on your heart and offenses will so easily dictate your emotions.
You may not dot every “I” or cross every “T” in your spiritual walk, but it is certain the Lord will even bless sinners who work for or supply His cause. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God (Acts 10:1-4).
The Lord will not allow you to surpass Him in giving. But that which you give unto the Lord must be without dissimulation. Envy, strife, offense and discontentment negate all worthiness to receive the blessings of God. Your constant murmuring and complaining, destroys your ability to communicate with God. Your prayers are fruitless and unheard. Discontentment is a manifestation of iniquity. The Word of God is sure and has declared iniquity to be enmity against God. It dares to suggest that God owes you something more than salvation.
The expectancy of faith and God’s movement in your life has been defined by the American dream. But this is the dream of Americans; it is not the promise of God. If so, then what of the millions of Christians living in hostile nations, who are being martyred as we speak for embracing a faith that has not provided them as much as a bicycle or a pair of boots for the snowy winter months they face. They have no religious freedoms and obtain just enough food to keep them alive. They are devoted to Christ and without controversy give their lives for the sake of the gospel. Yet they hold the faith blameless. They don’t complain, nor do they serve grievously. They are true sons, whose only dream is to do the will of the Father. How dare we go to the Father in the name of prayer, with a demand for Him to supply our wants and meet all of our self-determined needs? Why are we so much more deserving than the saints of old, who wondered the earth, living in caves and dens, having no certain dwellings.
Nevertheless, they were committed to the work of the ministry with only a hope for daily bread. At times they hungered and thirst, yet relentlessly forged a highway of holiness, knowing one day their change would come when the Master returned to take them home. They never looked narrowly on the church if it could not provide them relief; neither did they look to the world, nor anyone in the world to change their lifestyle. They trusted God to keep His promise which was to be a God of all consolation and comfort. They knew they were children of the kingdom and that …the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17). The treasure within provided them with peace in adversity and joy in tribulation. They had become as their teacher Paul, glorying in persecution, and even as Peter and John, counting it a blessing to suffer for Christ’s sake. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men (Rom 14:18). If your servitude is in the character of the Kingdom, then you, too, would be approved of God. But if you are filled with discontentment and offense, then the Word has deemed you unacceptable onto God.
Beloved, agree with God. If it is His good pleasure to cause you to remain as you are, then accept it as the measure He has given to you. Come to the resolve of the little migrant and seasonal farm worker; “This is my life.” I will work in the fields He has determined. I will fill each of my hampers with the grace and tender mercies of God. I will brave the heat of the day and seek out the water barrel for a cool drink to quench my thirst for righteousness. If I am covered daily with the muck of humiliation, I will not be offended. I too, will be a muck-stepper.
