1229) Everyone likes a bargain. As the owner of two small businesses, I have taken marketing courses on how to best utilize discounts profitably. Because of this, I have learned how big business capitalizes on the psychology of marketing. For example, a person is offered, buy two, get the third one free, when in reality, you are paying 1/3 off of three items. There is also the buy one, get one free items but the bottom line for both offers is, none of the purchases are truly free.

When I read 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul tells the church he prays for them, pointing out that he sees their work produced by faith. My first thought was, this is a buy one, get one free. If I have good work, it will produce faith, or if I have faith, it will produce good work. I think both notions are incorrect.

Can our work for the Lord produce more faith within? Yes. Do I think faith can spur us to more work for the Lord? Yes. What I was focusing on is the assumption that you can have only one and the other will manifest, but I don’t think this is usually true.

I think our work for God is a function of having faith that the God who has worked in his children in the past and always kept his promises, will do the same in our lives. This “knowing” or “relying” on God’s reputation (faith) is the foundation and motivation to continue to work. This “work” hinges on the fact that, by faith, we know our labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58).

The buy one, get one free may or may not be a real bargain, but with our faith, this deal may interfere with the very things God wants us to do for him.