Do you get irritated when a friend, spouse or your child come up with a great idea or do excellent work on a project and then someone else take the credit for the idea or the hard work? Perhaps it does more than annoy you; it makes you furious! Could it be that we practice that same irritating behavior, especially in relationship with our God by taking credit for what He has done or is doing through us?
Is there not an uncanny exhilaration after achieving a major accomplishment in education, business or have overcome a bad habit? Is that exhilaration based on how it makes you feel about yourself or about God’s grace? We proudly put the letters behind our name when we achieve a secondary level degree or proudly accept the applause after giving a moving speech or making a big sale. I recall a groom who, after the ceremony put his chest out and gave that proud look as if to say, “Look what I’ve just done”. While we certainly must aggressively work to develop our God-given skill or mental capacity, yet all we accomplish was enabled by family genetics, coaching, finances and and God’s gracious orchestration—all beyond our control.
I recently was in a study group examining the “fruit of the Spirit” the apostle Paul wrote about in Galatians 5:22-23. The group leader made the point that the listed virtues are not the results of our efforts. The only part we play in them is a decision to feed and nurture the God-imparted passion for a closer relationship with the Spirit. One of the group participants had held the classic thought that the fruit mentioned was something each person was responsible to grow in their life. As this fresh thought progressively dawned upon her, she slowly exclaimed, “I have to work to get my mind around that thought!” Our default human nature wants us to think we are solely responsible to become like Jesus—except when we mess-up in which case we blame someone else.
We can find great relief from the pressure that comes from this performance syndrome by humbling ourselves and admitting without God, we can do nothing. Our role model Jesus said that was true for Him in John 5:30 and specifically said of us, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NLT2)
The apostle Paul wrote, For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13, NLT2). Gardeners and farmers are forced to totally depend upon crops growing when they do not understand exactly how it happens. Yes, they must prepare the soil, fertilize, etc. but as Jesus explained, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens (Mark 4:26-27, NLT2). That verse has humbled and encouraged me MANY times. It reminds me that any good fruit that flows from my life is His working in me, not because out of my ingenuity or initiative. Yes, I must do all I can do to work with Him; however, it is His empowerment that produces the fruit. And He is doing this transformational work when I do not even know it is happening. How then can I honestly take the credit for the work only He can perform. When we do well and people recognize our efforts, the least we can do is remain humble, say “Thank You” and comment that you had a lot of help, especially from God.
So much of the stress we feel is of our own making. We put expectations on ourselves to make God or His work look good when all we really can do to make that happen is to seek to love and serve Him with all our heart. Trying to use our efforts to do His work only causes more stress which is what wears us out. When we focus our investment on seeking Him with all that is within us, it is amazing how He leverages our feeble efforts to look exceptional. This is what the promised abundant life looks like.
Thanks for stopping and talking with me today Bob I miss that. Also thank for telling me about your Blog.