Ang Pagbabago ni Juan Tamad

Juan Tamad is a character in Philippine folklore noteworthy for extreme laziness. 

Juan Tamad represents a person who is too lazy to work that even his mind is idle.  He has no dreams in life and too satisfied for what he got. He may be called parasite, too dependent on others, burden, and insensitive.

Proverbs 13:4

Lazy people want much but get little,

but those who work hard will prosper.

Poverty is the result of laziness. Being born in a poor family is not your fault, but to die poor and miserable is yours to blame. Laziness usually results to -

1. Corruption - greed of money and position but unwilling to work hard.

2. Bitterness - blaming others about his poverty and misery.

3. Poverty - stays with the mindset of being poor and unwilling to take action.

4. Crime - it increases because of oppression from the people in the position.

5. Broken Relationships - lack of responsibility and accountability to the family and to self.

John 5:17

But He answered them, "My Father is working until now, 

and I Myself am working."

Our Father (in Heaven) is working, even until to this very day so Jesus works too. Diligence is one of the marks of being a son or daughter of God. Jesus profess that He Himself is working.

According to the Bible, laziness is wickedness, no sense of responsibility and accountability. Like Cain, his offering was not accepted because it reflects the works of his hands and the attitude of his heart. When God asked him, where is your brother?, he answered God, Am I my brother's keeper? He was dull to take responsibility and even his offering to God is a result of his laziness.

Lazy servant is a worthless servant! - Mat. 25:26,30

In tagalog, "walang pakinabang", worthless servants are condemned and punished. Whatever he has will be taken away from him. God's design for us is fruitfulness, multiplication and dominion. But since sins enter into humanity, we lost our destiny and became disorder. Man was not able to rule even over himself which leads to unproductivity and loss of values.

It is about time for us to restore the lost image to Juan Tamad. He was deceived for a long time that's why he remain poor and wicked. He thought of himself as industrious but the truth is he is idle (lazy). He lost his dignity (self-respect) that graft and corruption became part of his value system, which also leads to loss of respect to others, willing to murder over material possessions and position.

Worst thing happen was when Juan Tamad was elected to be part of the public leadership. He led the people to became idle like him by allowing gambling to have easy money, giving away a little amount of money in exchange to "utang na loob" for the next coming election.

Juan Tamad must come to know Christ as personal Lord and Saviour. He needs someone who is dedicated to disciple him, to replace his values with Kingdom (God's) values. Juan Tamad needs to die to his old nature and be transformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. 

Patay na si Juan Tamad! Sya na ngayon si Juan Masipag (may pangarap, masikap, maagap, at higit sa lahat may paninidigan sa kanyang pananampalataya sa Dios, may malasakit sa kanyang kapwa at may pananagutan sa kanyang bayan).

Juan Tamad is just around...he may be found in schools, in your own home, companies, churches, government offices, streets or might be in front of the internet. 

This is a challenge to all of us, if our God is diligent and productive, He works until today, as well as the Son, so are we His followers. 

Daniel 11:32
But the people who know their God will be strong and take action.

Godly people are man and woman of action who is always after the result and increase (fruitfulness and multiplication). 

They always rule because they first rule themselves.

      Tamad (Lazy)                                vs.             Masipag (Diligent)

Palaging nangungutang                                  Nagtatrabaho nag-iipon               

Takot                                                                       Malakas ang loob   

Irresponsible at walang pakialaman          Nakikita ang pangangailangan

Ayaw mahirapan                                              Handang mahirapan

Laging may dahilan                                         Gumagawa ng paraan

Mahirap at pabigat                                          Mayaman at nakakatulong

Gastador (walang value ang pera)                 Good Investor (know 

                                                                          the value of money) 

Habang buhay na nangangamuhan        Naging Boss (amo) like Joseph

When you know your God, you will never remain poor. You will know the correct values in life. Kahit mahirap kang ipinanganak hindi mo na ipapamana sa iyong anak ang kahirapan...magsisikap kang mapag-aral ang iyong anak, at kung ikaw na anak ay ipinanganak sa mahirap na pamilya...magsisikap at magsisipag kang makatapos ng pag-aaral.

HOW TO GET OUT FROM THE CURSE OF POVERTY?

• -Your Fruitfulness starts with your daily walk with God. - Mat. 6:33
• -Your value depend in your identity with Christ not with the material possession. - Jer. 29:11
• -Your relationship with God will lead you to take action. - Daniel 11:32

Ang tunay na masipag ay gumagawa hindi sa kanyang kapahingahan sa hinaharap kundi likas sa kanya ang "mag-produce" at "mag-multiply". Para sa kanya iyon ang halaga at hininga ng kanyang  buhay. Ang kapahingahan sa kanya ay makatulong sa iba mula sa bunga ng gawa ng kanyang mga kamay.

Prov. 10:22 

It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, 

And He adds no sorrow to it.

• Wealth comes from the Lord. He only gives it to the righteous (wise and diligent), 
• He never gave it to the wicked (lazy and fool).

• God is a wise investor. He scatters His seeds to the good soil where He can gather abundant harvest, never to the barren land where His seeds will turn to waste.     

Juan Masipag here he comes...everything his hands do will prosper! 

He will never be the same again!

Prov. 10:4

Lazy hands bring poverty, 

but hard-working hands bring riches.

10 Truths A Successful Man Lived By

6. Thinking and Doing Are Two Different Things
             Success never comes to the people who just think about it but to those who act on it. Dreams and faith are useless without action. Successful people are men and women of actions, who are willing to get out of the comfort zone and be disturbed. When they see things, they immediately take a course of plan and immediately exploit to receive the desired result. They won't stop working until they are satisfied with the result.
             You don't need to feel 100% ready to do a task, or else you will be just waiting for the rest of your life.

7. Failure Usually Comes First Before Success
            Committing a mistake is not a problem, but the painful thing is, when it occurs you never learn from it. Too afraid to fail won't lead you to the possible way of success. A person who avoid failures, fail to find the possible solution to the problem. The difference between the master and the beginner is that master failed many times than the beginner had ever tried. Sometimes things need to go very wrong before they can be right.
            Success is a product of learned lesson from past failures.

8. Being Busy Does Not Mean Productivity

           Your productivity does not depend on having a hectic schedule.  Busyness sometimes slowdown our capacity to perform well. We cannot actually do everything we want to do, but we may choose to do what we value. Proper scheduling, planning and saying "no" would help us prioritize and do what is important. When we try to please everybody we will eventually find ourselves in the end exhausted and lonely. 

           Use of time is  an investment, better utilize it to which is important to you and serve your purpose.

9. You Live The Life You Create

          Everyone receives a gift of life, but how it becomes depends on you. Many people will give their own opinion about life and tries to persuade you, however, the decision is yours to make. They will walk with you but can never be in your shoes. So make sure that the path you walk aligns with your conviction and values. Do not be afraid to change course when it is worth and will lead you to your purpose.

           It makes no sense to be at the top when you miss to do your passion and the purpose of your soul. Set your goal, be productive and patient. Keep the good attitude while working and waiting for the result of what you believe in. Your success shall be your witness in the end.

           Be brave to step up to the edge of the unknown, you are actually design to exploit greater things. And greater things are the result of your faith and your intentional moves.

10. Life Is Short

          The average human life is relatively short. Death comes to everyone, it will happen eventually. Somehow we were surprise when it comes, we thought there is still one more stair and find ourselves off balance for a moment, before our mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is.

           Live your life today! Don't ignore death but don't be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest tragedy in life, but a life without a purpose. The greatest loss is what dies inside of you while you're still alive! Nothing to lose if you step out to live and take the challenges of this life.

- to be continued -

How to Receive Favor?

^{Genesis 4:3} When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, ⁵ but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
⁶ “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? ⁷ You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

Every human being is given the potential and privilege to offer (give). What makes the offering accepted or rejected is the thin line - attitude, the conditon of the heart. What matter is not "what you give" but "why you give", not "what you do" but "why you do". Because it reflects the kind of relationship we have with the Lord.

 God has no favorites...but He looked favorably to those who give their best.

1. When it was time... Ever since we are conceived in our mother's womb we received the gift of time. Our productivity depend on it. How we use it will determine our fruitfulness.

2. Cain presented some of his crops... Cain gave his some and not his best that's why his offering did not received favor from God. He offered the "spare" from his produce. Anything less than the best or left overs are unacceptable to God.

3. Abel brought a gift - the best of the first born... Abel offered to God the best of his first. God looks at the attitude of the giver. We can give anything yet without quality. Giving is always related to relationship. Abel knew God, he acknowledged Him as the Excellent Being who deserved nothing but the best. God Himself offered the Best of the First...no other than His one and only Son.

4. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift...what we give represents who we are and expresses what inside of us. God did not measure the gift but it is our capacity to give that is being measured. Jesus commended the widow who put coins in the collection bag, for she gave everything even what she needed to live on (Mk. 12:44). God did not offer His spare...He offered His ONLY ONE.

5. Why are you so angry...You will be accepted if you do what is right....His own pride resulted to jealousy, anger and murder. He lost his respect to God, others and even to himself. Pride is self-desctructive. It fails to see its own failure and start blaming others, or maybe seeing it but deny to admit. BUT IF OUR CONDUCT AND ATTITUDE ARE RIGHT, WE WILL BE ACCEPTABLE. WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE GOD'S FAVOR WITHOUT ASKING FOR IT.


 Time and opportunity are both placed on everyone...how we accept and utilize them makes the difference. Are the works of your hands acceptable? Do they reflect how much you love God? Apostle Paul give emphasis on the attitude of gratitude in 1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." In this way everything we offer unto God become acceptable. And His joy shall be our strength (and happiness).

SEED OF THE NATION

Amos 9:13 (BBE)
See, the days will come, says the Lord, when the ploughman will overtake him who is cutting the grain, and the crusher of the grapes him who is planting seed; and sweet wine will be dropping from the mountains, and the hills will be turned into streams of wine.

(ISV)
"Look! The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the one who sows will overtake the harvester and the treader of grapes will overtake the planter. Fresh wine will drip down from the mountains, cascading down from the hills.

GOD'S WORD IS GOD'S WORK
-This verse is a promise of abundance, overflowing and great harvest
-the very reason that our lives remain unfruitful because of sin, a sinful life is a barren life
 -Barrenness cost unfruitfulness, it is a cursed life.
-you, we, the church was barren, unfruitful because still living in a disobedient, sinful life and  we do not understand the power of Christ's death and the cross.
-as we pass through the cross...as we understand the power of His death...cursed life has been cancelled and we transfer to the blessed life.
-our life is like a seed, before it bears fruit...it must die first.

*John 12:24:  "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

 **Increase in seeds, increase in harvest

a. SOWER  OVERTAKES THE HARVESTER
-The Seed of God -   JESUS CHRIST
-It is not the teaching nor the works of Christ to be multiplied  (though that would be a by-product.) (We are to do greater works. John. 14:12). 
-What to be multiplied was Himself, Jesus the Seed planted in mankind. 
-God sent His Son (the SEED) to the earth, not to remain alone but to die that (the Seed) He planted in man bring forth life in us, His very image. 
-Jesus was to multiply Himself in man and each new generation of enchristed ones to further multiply the Christ in others.
-sower of the seeds will overtake the harvester because many seeds are dying to self
- you die, we die....dead from lustful desire, emotion, reasoning
-your old life is dead...and you have a new life today ready to reproduce.

b. OVERTAKE  - Multiplying
-we are the fruit that bears the Seed of God
-now more seeds are dying that would bring great harvest
-reproducing Christlike character in every man

c. LIFE OF ABUNDANCE
 - blessed life - John 10:10
 -OVERFLOWING

-when Jesus died...He was able to reproduce Himself to Peter and His disciples...and the disciples died to themselves...reproduce the church...and the church must die to herself....
-WE ARE SEED OF THIS NATION who live to die...die to live and to bear much fruit, fruit that will last
-ang BUHAY NATIN NGAYON AY HINDI NA UNFRUITFUL KUNDI FRUITFUL NA AT OVERFLOWING PA...AT BLESSING PA SA IBA....AT MULTIPLYING PA DAHIL PATAY NA ANG DATING IKAW. NOW THE CHURCH WILL BE OVERTAKING....YOUR LIFE OF SEED WILL REPRODUCE A GREAT HARVEST!!
 -PAG LABAS NYO NG ENCOUNTER NA ITO...YOU ARE THE SEED OF THE SOWER...

Martin Luther King Quotes

1. “The purpose of life is not to be happy, nor to achieve pleasure nor avoid pain, but to do the will of God, come what may.”

2. “I just want to do God’s will.”

3. “When I took up the cross I recognized it's meaning. The cross is something that you bear, and ultimately, that you die on.”

4. “The early Christians rejoiced when they were deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the Church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.”

5. "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

6. "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."

7. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

8. “Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude.”

9. "The gospel at its best deals with the whole man, not only his soul but his body, not only his spiritual well-being, but his material well being as well.”

10. "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."