I’ve been thinking some more about effort since my last post. Mainly because I’m not taking my own advice to be more disciplined. Getting over the inertia is a challenge, but then, if it weren’t, it wouldn’t take discipline and it wouldn’t mean much of anything.
Scripture has quite a bit to say about it, too. Paul encourages us several times:
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12-14)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Gal 6:9)
This mirrors what even the world recognizes, and what I talked about last week. Effort does indeed matter. What surprises me a little, though, is the specific kind of effort that God expects of us, and what He himself contributes. According to Romans 8:28, “In all things, God works.” Jesus, too says, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (John 5:17).
So are we also to work? Well, certainly God doesn’t want us to just sit back and wait for Him to do everything for us. But look at what Scripture emphasizes to us that we should be always putting at the top of our to-do list:
- Seek God (Psalm 105:4)
- Pray (1 Thess 5:17, Eph 6:18)
- Give Thanks (Eph 5:20)
- Rejoice (1 Thess 5:16, Phil 4:4)
- Be alert (1 Peter 3:15, Eph 6:18, Luke 21:36)
- Keep a clear conscience (Acts 24:16)
- Be kind to each other (1 Thess 5:15)
Interesting that what God considers essential for success are the things we tend to put on our “if I have time” list. Paul understands the real goal, though:
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. (1 Tim 4:9-10)
Last week my prayer was that I would keep on keeping on. To that I now add that I’d remember the reason for my effort and keep my trust in the living God of the universe.
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