We Will One Day Hear “Well Done”

At the end of every podcast, we like to ask our guests to share what God has been teaching them in this season of life. This week’s guest is Todd Wagner , who small group of friends established Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas out of a desire to connect people with the richness, adventure, and fullness of life that comes through Christ alone.

Deuteronomy 4:32

Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

I was hanging out a little bit earlier today at the very end of Deuteronomy. Right now, by reading through the Bible, I've been in Deuteronomy for a while. And I use this one because I think it's just a good reminder for us all to have in season and out of season. That's what the scripture means in Timothy when Paul says to Timothy, we're not just Christians when it's convenient and we don't just give God glory and honor when everything is up and to the right. So, in season and out of season, I want to be a man of the book. 

So, by the way, in Deuteronomy Chapter 8, God says, hey, listen, I'm the one who gives you the power to make wealth. He's also the one that gives you the ability, now I'm quoting from Philippians 4, to do well in seasons where it's not turning out the way that you had planned or had hoped. What I want you to know in the midst of every season and whether you're in the midst of plenty or want, whether you are well-fed or hungry. Paul has learned the secret of contentment. 

And that secret was learned by Moses and Moses constantly had to remind the people of Israel of this. So this is what Moses says in Deuteronomy Chapter 4, and I'll paraphrase the first part of this section of the end.. But basically in verse 32, he starts by just saying, just go back and remember who I am. So for the Christian, go back and remember what Christ has done for you. In Romans 8, it says he did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him up for us. Now it is also within him to give freely. 

So, back to Moses, it was wonderful that he split the sea for the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. It's wonderful that, you know, he covered the mountain with fire. But what he's done for you is even more wonderful. So remember the things that God has done for you. He says in verse 33, has anyone ever heard the voice of God speaking in the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and survived? Guys, we have the Bible in our hands and we can open it up to read every single day. 

And then verse 34. He goes on just to list all the different things that he has done. But this is what I want you to hear.  He says, listen, verse 40. So you shall keep the statutes and his commandments, which I'm giving you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you and that you may live long in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time. 

This is what I would love our business leaders in this day and age to know there is something called gospel blessing. It's what Paul is talking about in Philippians 4. And it's very different than the perverted prosperity gospel. The Prosperity Gospel says that going well with you means you're never going to get sick, which is crazy, that your business deals are always going to work out. You're gonna be healthier, wealthier, wiser than you've ever been. Well, the wiser part will be true, but the wealthier part, I don't know. Some faithful men, the Bible says, were sawed in, two, others were fed to the lions.

Sometimes God shut the mouths of lions. And sometimes he delivered people from certain death. I don't know what your tomorrow is going to be. I just know that God is going to let you have his peace in whatever tomorrow brings if you walk with him. 

And so that phrase in Deuteronomy, chapter four, verse 40 that it may go well with you is not to be distorted, to mean that your business is going to work. It means that the way you work in your business is going to end with you hearing the words, well done, good and faithful servant.