Ordinary stuff?

The question today is: Upon what do you rest your hope of acceptance before a holy God? The usually (wrong) answers are things like baptism, church attendance, a good life, etc. I nearly skipped this introduction because I rely on Jesus Christ for my salvation. But then I thought, it says “acceptance” not salvation, and there is a difference.

I grew up in a farm home with loving parents. The only complaint my father ever had was about the neighbors who were lazy. His work ethic was high and those who didn’t work hard came under condemnation. I and my siblings grew up with that value system. For years, I’ve recognized the problem called ‘workaholic’ in the four of us. My unsaved brother has the worst case.

Working hard is not wrong, but working hard to be accepted is not biblical and a definite problem. I woke up this morning not wanting to get up because I don’t have any meaningful work to do today. That is, who cares about cleaning the house and my self-imposed to-do list? Is God pleased with my non-essential activities? When I read this question, I realized how easily I slip into that old value system of having and accomplishing meaningful work, but is it important to God?

The Bible is clear that my salvation is not based upon my work, but on His grace:

“He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” (Ephesians 1:5–7)

This truth is echoed in many places, such as the next chapter in these familiar verses:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)

I believe that with all my heart. However, the next verse says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) The question that bugs me is this: What if God only prepared a few things for me to do? Does that mean I’m not worthy of serving Him? Shouldn’t I just be glad for those few things? Is my ambition to do meaningful work God’s value system? Or is it a reflection of my upbringing and not at all about God’s thoughts?

The Galatians struggled with this. They were saved by grace, but they fell into the trap of trying to be ‘perfected’ by their works. Paul scolded them for their foolishness, first telling him that the source of any good work they were doing was not them but their Savior. He said this:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

Then he added,

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?  . . . . Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 2:20–3:6)

I don’t worry about my salvation; Jesus did it and does it. I am not supposed to be concerned about good works of service either because Jesus also does those — using my body, hands, feet, whatever He needs to accomplish whatever He wants done. I’m not to fret about that just as I don’t fret about my eternal destiny.

Yet it seems odd that God’s will includes ordinary chores like mine. As I think that, Titus 2 comes to mind:

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3–5) Even older women need an exemplary life involving very ordinary things!

^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, my conclusion for this today is that perhaps I’m really not worried about being acceptable to you. I just want to be more significant than “ordinary” — and that is a reflection of my pride. You have given me enough challenges for this day without needing to be exceptional. I can live in awe of You no matter what chores are on my list. Loving spouse and family, self-control, purity, and those other items all require being filled with Your Spirit and living in utter obedience. Forgive my dissatisfaction and my arrogance. May Your will be done in me today.

Priorities and to-do lists

While having money is not a sin, loving it and loving all it can buy is not God’s idea. Like everything else that God gives, money is His property, not mine. In fact, I am not an owner but a steward. How can a steward use her Master’s property for herself?

Not only that, throughout the Bible God warns against greed and selfishness. He tells His people that their lives will not prosper if they get their priorities backwards. This means that if I am going to live for Him, I need to consider what He has to say about money and ownership and having stuff.

I also need to consider my priorities. What is most important in God’s mind? Do I fritter away my hours doing what pleases me? Doing what has no bearing on His kingdom? Or has He other plans?

For instance, back in 525 BC or thereabouts, He wanted His temple rebuilt. Instead of getting on that, God’s people were building “paneled houses” for themselves. God said to them:

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors. (Haggai 1:7–11)

This short passage tells me a great deal about God’s priorities. His house was more important than their houses. He was pleased with this place of worship and that He was glorified in that place. Their obedience to rebuild it was more important than their personal homes and personal success. While it was not wrong that they had nice houses, it was sin to leave their place of worship in ruins while they furthered their own desires.

Today, God’s dwelling place is not in a building, but in each of His people. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Construction of this temple means giving full attention to spiritual growth and Christian maturity. This comes first, above any other kind of success. God is more concerned that I am a godly person who lives in obedience to Him than I sell books, make beautiful art, or become successful in the eyes of the world in any other endeavor. He also wants me to be pure, keep myself from sin, and not allow spiritual ruin of any kind. When I, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” He promises that, “all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Also, Christians collectively are the temple of God. Ephesians 2:21–22 says that in Christ, “the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

This means that the people of God and our collective spiritual health is more important than my personal well-being. I am to live like Jesus lived by putting others first and giving attention to the spiritual health of the Body of Christ. This means I am to, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than (myself), looking not only to (my) own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3–4)

As I read these verses and compare them to my to-do list, I can usually see what needs to happen first, yet there are also verses that tell me to take care of my home and family. For instance, 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3–5)

Even as these verses are about mentoring others, they are also about my own obedience toward home and family responsibilities. I am to work at home and care for my family, in love and yielded to the will of God. For me, this is primary. I can easily get caught up in all sorts of other things and not bother with the boring, like cleaning bathrooms and weeding the garden.

Every day brings choices. Every day God encourages me to put Him first, talk to Him first, not only first in the morning but before all choices, even before doing those other things that are clearly His will. I need His advice, strength, encouragement and guidance. After all, I am a steward, and stewards are custodians. In all things, the Master has the final say.

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Father, people say Your Word is an old book and not relevant these days. They have no idea how much You help Your people with decisions and daily choices. I want my life to have significance, yet realize how much the world’s way of measuring success is flawed and self-centered. Eternal significance is achieved only by doing Your will, from the heart. My actions may be flawed and often seem insignificant, but if done in obedience, then faith tells me that You will give them lasting value.