Skip to main content

The Size of The Job

                     However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. (Acts 20:24)

 

            When I read verses like this, I tend to either get depressed or angry. Why can’t I live like Paul? What’s wrong with me that I can’t so thoroughly dedicate myself to finishing the race and completing the task the Lord Jesus has given me? Why aren’t I some super-saint or super-evangelist? I know perfectly well that even if I were as gifted in evangelism as Paul, and dedicated to it, I couldn’t face the abuse and deprivation he did, unless God provided miraculous endurance, strength, courage, etc.

            The first rational response to this is that God provided Paul with miraculous endurance, strength, courage, etc. God met all Paul’s needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus, not according to Paul’s. If God were to put me in those situations, He has promised to take care of me, too.

            The second rational response is that what we read in the book of Acts didn’t take place over the course of a year, or two. Paul spent more than a year in a number of the places he went. We read, and compare ourselves to, the highlights of his career. Often, we compare the lowlights of our career or life with those highlights.

            The third rational response is that we tend to select what we consider to be the highlights for our comparison. We don’t ask God to reveal to us what He thinks is praiseworthy. If we did, we might be surprised. We want to be the hero on the front lines, but the soldier who cleans the latrines or kitchen may be doing more good for the whole army than the hero. After all, an army can’t fight if it has dysentery. Extraordinary poet, John Milton knew this pain. He longed to write but went blind. Eventually, he wrote that those who stand and wait also serve.

            Some may say that these are excuses for cowards, weaklings, backsliders, and other losers. But when Peter asked Jesus about Jesus’ plans for John, Peter was told that what John would face was not a matter of Peter’s concern. Peter’s concern was doing what God called Peter to do, no matter how great or small that was. And in the parables Jesus taught about talents (His investment in people) what mattered was not the size or nature of the investment, but what the servant did with it. We may like to think that the one who got ten and earned ten more did better than the one who got five and earned five more, but both earned a 100% increase. They doubled the investment. It’s not about the size of the job, it’s about the faithfulness in doing it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more