2 Timothy 2:6 “The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.”
Years ago the Lord told Eli that anything he got into his own experience, He would require at his hearer’s hands.
The experience of salvation….of obedience…..of denying self….of growing in grace and knowledge….of the personal relationship with Christ Jesus( “let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth”)……of losing his self-life to find his Christ’s life….of battles, and adversity….
Not that anyone would have the same experiences….but that those general experiences would be required at their hand…..
“Required”. What does that exactly mean?
The verses which cover the meaning are these:
Luke 12:47-48 “And that servant, which knew His Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to His Will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
The Greek word here in these two verses, for “required”, means “to seek to worship God”.
And both have to do with “faithfulness”…or being faithful with what has been given us.
What has been required at our hands? How much we have been given over the years.
His Word preached, and taught, and lived….
It is to be a life open to and receptive to Christ Jesus….who is standing and knocking on His church…..but speaking to us, who have ears to hear.
It is, in what we hear, that we are required to respond to….that is what He requires.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 