Motivation makes a difference

Wikipedia says that the Protestant work ethic, often called the Puritan work ethic, is a concept which emphasizes hard work and diligence as a constant display of a person's salvation in the Christian faith, in contrast to a focus on religious attendance and ceremonial sacraments. Even though he never called it that, my father set an example to his family of this work ethic.

Another website claims that all hard work is based on guilt and that people are stressed at work because of this Puritan work ethic. While this is an interesting observation, I don’t think the fault lies with the Puritans. Rather, it lies with the fact that most people miss the underlying reason why the Puritans were diligent in their work. It was not from guilt or an effort to earn points with God, but to demonstrate that He was in charge of their lives. That is, with Him, motivations change.

To clarify, with Christ in charge of my life, even living in my heart, He changes my attitude toward work. If He was not here and not my Lord and Savior, then I could not have His attitude or find the joy in work that is available to Christian people. I would not even want to be diligent.

And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:16–17)

Jesus worked hard, even in the most humble tasks. He washed feet, healed the sick, listened and cared about people. While His ultimate goals were far greater than these ordinary methods, He never shirked from persistent labor. I often say that God never goes on vacation, and I am thankful for that. I can work or rest, but His care is always diligent and He is always available.

Jesus sets an example for me. He worked, but He also loved what He was doing and loved the people He served. What is missing in many modern workers is this motivation. In many cases, people complain about work because they do not do it for other people or for God. Their goals might include paying the bills and having enough left over for recreation. Workers who love what they do are rare, but just that makes a difference.

I’ve never worked outside the home, but work is work, wherever it is, and whether or not a paycheck comes at the end of it. For me, learning to love my “job” means allowing Jesus be Lord of my life. He is a homemaker (He is busy right now preparing a place for me, John 14:2). He is also leader of a family (and so often His children are brats) and an organizer of events to such a degree I cannot imagine it. He has all I need to help me not only love my job but do it well and do it for others because I love those whom I serve.

Jesus also had balance in His life. On more than one occasion, the Bible tells of Him being asleep, even during a storm. He sets an example in work and in rest, in worship and in responding to the voice of God. He knew that God didn’t take the Sabbath off, but kept working for the good of humanity. He also knew when His body needed to rest so He rested, giving Him renewed energy for obedience and work.

Motivated by Jesus is much different than being motivated by guilt, money or necessity. Jesus makes work a delight rather than a stressful and despised activity. He even promised the weary and heavily burdened that they would find in Him rest and a lighter load.

As I look at my to-do list for the day, I am already praying for His grace and help, and that I can practice what I preach!

Priorities

The past two days have left me feeling overtired and subnormal. While prayer has been good, I’ve not been able to complete other things started, or accomplish normal chores. I’ve been busy, but feel like I’ve been spinning my wheels and getting nowhere. 

Today’s devotional reading at first seemed pointless, but as I look at it and various comments about it, God has something to say to my situation. The scene is a conversation between two lovers. The man, likely Solomon, is asking his beloved to go with him, perhaps a walk in the garden. He praises her virtues and speaks loving words to her. Then one of them, it is not clear who, says this strange line,

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom. (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Foxes or jackals often came into the vineyards and ate the grapes. In this case, the vines were in bloom only, but the inference is to make sure the foxes are gone before the grapes appear. Either she is asking him to do it for them both, or he is asking her to do it since this may have been her responsibility prior to their relationship.

This verse has many interpretations. Is this literal, perhaps a suggestion that since she had failed somehow before (1:6), she needed to be more zealous to take care of their vineyards? Or is it less literal and more about tending to any subtle sins that might spoil their blossoming relationship?

From the latter idea, several commentaries suggest that readers apply this to their own spiritual lives. That is, take care of the small things that destroy the work of God in our lives. This could be the first thoughts of actual sin, or any hindrances that keep us from doing what is right. It could refer to any little thing that ruins our judgment, muddies our conscience, perplexes our thinking or discourages our inclination to virtue.

Some theologians suggest these little foxes could also be whispers of false teaching that obstruct the progress of the gospel. These also must be tamed, restrained, or destroyed before they ruin our witness.

I can think of all sorts of examples in both these interpretations. In personal relationships, any problems can become wedges if not addressed. A small doubt leads to mistrust and that can separate two people. A small disagreement can grow into a large feud. Lack of forgiveness can become bitterness and turn our focus from God to self-pity. Attraction to worldly pleasures can start small and eventually turn Christian workers from their primary purpose to share Christ and glorify God.

One writer thinks that despite the endless variety of interpretations, this verse does not represent anything. Instead, this man is inviting the woman to join in some sort of childlike play that young lovers often do. Yet even that has application for those who work all the time and never take a rest from their labors. As another writer says, this could even be her excuse for not going with her young lover —she has work to do in the vineyard. 

This “non-interpretation” suggests to me that I’ve made my to-do list more important than it should be. At my age, and with this heart problem, I’ve been somewhat driven to finish things and get my half-done projects off the table. They have lined up and backed up, and are getting too heavy on my mind. I sense from these verses that my ambitions have become more than little foxes and that the Lord is inviting me to do something different. It could be spending more time with Him or chilling out with family and friends. In either case, I need to deal with those foxes.

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Lord, I’m from a family that values accomplishment. I know that there is nothing wrong with being busy or getting things done — unless it interferes with the ripening of the spiritual fruit You desire in my life. Work, work, work can keep me from listening to You, from deepening relationships with others, and from getting the rest that my body needs. I need to find a picture of some little foxes and attach it to my chore list as a reminder to not let those things happen. I need to remember that putting a check in all those little boxes is not nearly as important as going for a walk in the garden with You.

Only one place to rest

When the rain stopped, Noah determined a way to find out if the water had dried up sufficiently for him, his family and the animals to leave the ark. He sent a raven, perhaps to look for carrion. It came back. He then sent a dove.

But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. (Genesis 8:9)

Spurgeon likens the dove to a believer who has gone out into the world. Since the sinful world is under the judgment of God, there is no place of rest so the dove returns to the Master. However, the effort to find a resting place has overwhelmed this bird. She reaches the ark but the Master has to reach out and bring her in.

This is a picture of my heavenly Father’s care for me. I’m not often out in the cursed world where I encounter all that God has already judged. However, when I am, it is easy to relate to the fatigue of the dove. Not only is there no rest in this sinful world, those who seek it become a burden to my heart.

I can also relate to the care of Noah, pictured as her Master and her salvation. At times it feels as if I have no strength to get back with Jesus. For the dove, this was a physical fatigue. For me, it is spiritual. The battle to find a place of rest apart from Jesus brings me to great weariness. There is no peace, no rest, at least none that lasts, unless I am with my Savior.

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Lord, I’m thankful for the ark of my salvation. Because of Jesus Christ, I do not fear the judgment due me; He has taken it all. Yet You sometimes put me in places where I see thousands still in “the valley of decision” and my heart becomes burdened for them. Like the throngs who wanted to hear Jesus, they are sheep without a shepherd. Many are unaware of the danger they are in, and unaware of Your provision for their rescue. Yet I cannot change their hearts. Do I warn them? What do You want from me? You send me out to see what is going on and like the dove, I come fluttering back to You, resting until You ask me to go again.

Rest from my labor

Today the idea of my main work was again reinforced. Lord, You care about the other things that I do — caring for family, time with friends, cooking and cleaning, the writing that I do, even my artistic endeavors. You want me to be a good influence by living a holy and obedient life. You move me to be involved in my church and I do not feel complete unless I’m teaching in Your name and for You.

However, the task You put at the top of my list again and again is prayer. This is my main work and I’m to give it my all. Yet I must confess that I have not prayed this past couple of weeks the same as I normally do. We are on holidays. I took a break.

Pulling back was not a good idea. Sigh. Instead of this allowing me to feel more rested (after all, I was not “working” so hard), I have felt more fatigued, even emptied. Today I fully occupied myself with my work and came away from that with more energy than I’ve had for many days. How interesting that You give me this verse tonight.

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Hebrews 4:9)

Hebrews 4 is about believers ceasing from our efforts in the same way that You did after You created the world. While it hints at the rest we experience when we quit trying to earn our salvation, it is mostly about that future rest which we will experience when we enter eternity.

The devotional thoughts from this verse are expressed in a language from another era, but when I read them, my heart said “yes” and I want to write the same thoughts in my own words . . .  

How different will be my state in heaven from what it is here on earth. Here I am given Your life that I might work as You ask. I do suffer weariness, but there in that eternal home, fatigue is totally unknown. On earth, I am anxious to serve You, yet my strength is totally unequal to my zeal. I constantly ask You, “Help me serve You, O my God.”

At times, I become so occupied in Your work that my energy falters. I become exhausted with the labor. Yet I know that this too shall pass. Just as the sun nears the horizon in the west, my life is nearer to its end. Even so, I will rise again on a brighter day than I have ever seen before, a day where I will be at rest. Here, You sometimes allow times of refreshing, but that rest is partial. In heaven, my rest will be perfect.

So much of life here brings a sense of distress because there is no end to what needs to be done. I feel as if I am never finished and even if I can check off one chore, there is that sense that I’ve never quite achieved or finished. Yet eternity will bring rest. I will be at the top of the mountain, even in the loving arms of my Heavenly Father. I cannot go higher nor achieve anything greater.

This is the rest that remains. All the work will be done, but also all the worries, concerns, burdens and pressures will be over. Nothing rusts or fades or withers there. My eyes will see perfectly.  My voice will be certain and strong. My heart will never waver. My worship will be perfect. My faith will be sight.

Oh, thank You for reminding me to keep looking forward. There is that great and happy day ahead — when mortality is swallowed up with life and perfect rest begins.

Staying Balanced

Being a Christian is sometimes like standing on a teeter-totter. If I move too far one way, I drop, but going too far the other way has the same result.

Many of Jesus’ teachings seem to be in opposition. How can a person be saved by grace not works, yet be told to do good works? How can I be told my salvation is secure, yet I must press on and work out my salvation?

Some of the answers are in understanding the terminology, but this morning I came to my Bible weary. I had more than eight hours sleep last night but my to-do list overwhelms me. I put my head down on my desk and then remembered Jesus’ words, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. . . . For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28, 30).

I started to think that maybe all the stuff on my list is not His idea, that maybe I’ve taken on more than I am supposed to, and that this easy burden began to sound like a great alternative. I moved toward that end of the teeter-totter.

Then I read today’s devotional verses from Hebrews 12:1-2. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Oops! Watch out for the sin that so easily ensnares me! I can think of several: procrastination, laziness, discouragement, selfishness that urges me to do what I feel like doing instead of what God asks of me.

Balance. Stand between these two extremes. I’m to work hard remembering that Jesus was no shirker, but I’m also to be doing His work, not whatever I please.

Another verse comes to mind. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” What God asks of me might make me tired, but He promises eternal results.

Hebrews 12:3-4 also offers this mild rebuke against my complaining, “For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” It is not as if God is asking me to die on a cross. I just have lots to do.

In quoting from Matthew 11, I left out verse 29 so went back to read it. It says, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jesus never promised rest for my body. The disciples worked hard and suffered physically. Some died as martyrs. Paul worked hard, toiling day and night for the Gospel. I’m thinking I am too wimpy.

But He did promise rest to my soul. My mind does not need to be in a flap and anxious about that list. My emotions can be level, even joyful (and it’s okay if emotions teeter) because God has given me a meaningful and abundant life. My will can be firmly fixed, considering Him and thankful for all He does for me. Balancing on the teeter-totter means getting off my duff to do what He has asked me, accepting His peace and joy, and not grumbling about my chores.