Did you look out Tuesday morning, see what was happening, and reschedule a few things to stay at home? I did. Some schools closed for the day. Some people postponed medical appointments. I was asked if I would cancel an evening ladies meeting. It was tempting. But when I talked to my husband about it, he just said, “Hundreds of people had to go to work today.”
His remark made me remember how easy it is to become accustomed to comfort, and when difficulty arises, alter plans rather than enduring.
A local artist told me that he is very much aware of that tendency. He has learned to discipline himself to paint landscapes in any weather. He said that if he allowed bad weather to keep him from working, soon ANY weather would be bad.
This almost perfect spring weather lulled many of us right into our lawn chairs. Boots and heavy jackets have long been stashed in the back corner of the closet. But along comes a foot of snow, not too uncommon in Alberta, and it suddenly became difficult to do some things that were quite ordinary a few weeks ago. Frankly, I felt like going back to bed for the day.
The book of Proverbs really prodded me out of my lethargy. I remembered verses like “The lazy man will not plow because of winter; therefore he will beg during the harvest and have nothing” (20:4), and “the soul of the lazy person desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.” (13:4)
What does it take to get up and get going, in spite of adverse conditions? Sometimes it is hunger: “The person who labors, labors for himself, for his hungry mouth drives him on.” (16:26) (Good incentive)
Sometimes it is a sense of responsibility for others (27:23-27), or a desire for wealth (10:4), or for honor (10:5). Whatever it is, the Bible calls the diligent “wise” and the sluggard, one who will say “There is a lion outside, I will be slain in the streets,” is called a fool. (22:13)
Granted, there are some people without the ability to safely drive on icy roads. And sometimes there are genuine dangers that should be avoided. But there are times I have avoided work just because I did not want to be uncomfortable.
I wonder how successful that artist would be without his philosophy. And I wonder how much more I would accomplish if I did not allow snow, cold, rain, aching bones, and a vast number of inconveniences to slow me down?
My dad used to tease us when we were on our way somewhere. He would let us go a distance, call us, and when we stopped, he would ask, “How far would you have been if you hadn’t stopped?”
Interesting question, especially on days where it would be easier to crawl back into bed than go on.
The first horse I owned was “barn-sour”. No, that is not a bad odor - but a hard-to-cure bad habit. Whenever I went for a ride, that horse waited for the slightest relaxing of the reins. Then he would turn around and head back to the barn. He seemed to think that I had some torture planned for him, and standing in a dark barn would be far better. No matter what I did, that horse had real determination to have his own way.
I am glad God has more patience with me than I did with that horse. You see, the horse and I are
somewhat alike.
First of all, the Lord purchased me (with the blood of his Son) and became my new Master. He took me out of my old way of life... figuratively - out of the dark barn. If He had not done it, I would still be there, because, like that horse, I liked it. There was nothing in me that would leave without someone urging me. “No man can come to (Christ), except the Father... draw him...” (John 6:44)
Secondly, He grabbed the reins of my life and pointed me towards toward His goal - being changed into the image of His Son. He has no intention that I ever return to “the barn.”
Sounds great doesn’t it? In fact, it makes little sense to go back, for any reason. That “barn” was really a prison. There is a marvelous freedom in being guided by the Master, and He has promised good for me, not torture. But now and then, like that horse, I turn around, and head right back to that sin from where I came.
If a barn-sour horse could talk, it might have as many excuses as I have come up with for resisting the Lord’s pressure on my reins. Yet in loving persistence, He has, one by one, answered my excuses:
I can’t..... “You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” (Phil.4:13)
I have too many areas of need..... “My grace is sufficient, my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (II Cor.12:9)
I’m afraid of losing my friends..... “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
I won’t know what to do, how to do it..... “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go...” (Psalm 32:8).
Now I understand that my barn-sour streak arises when I take my eyes off the Lord and cease to trust His promises. Then, just like between me and that horse, the conflict begins. I resist God and there is war between my old sinful nature and His Spirit. (See Galatians 5:16,17)
The Apostle Paul also knew the same internal struggles, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do - I do not do, but what I hate I do... I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing..” (Romans 7:15,18,19)
He goes on to thank God that there is an answer to the turmoil - it is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. In fact, our Almighty God has the power to take hold of ANY life and change the direction of it. He told one of His enemies, “I will put my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came.” Since He is able to do that, He is able to turn my life around, in spite of the depth of my doubts and fears.
Furthermore, the Master’s guidance is not harsh or unkind. His care is excellent, His hand is merciful and loving. Whatever tugs at me to turn backwards, He always has an answer for it, one that more than satisfies. To pay attention to Him finds me “beside still waters” and “in green pastures.”
As long as I owned him, my barn-sour horse never got over his habits... but that might have been the fault of his owner. As for me, how thankful I am that I belong to the One who will never give up on my “training” until I am what He intended me to be.
After attending the Calgary/Edmonton Labor Day football game, This analogy came to mind: “Christian work could be compared to a football game - 35,000 people who badly need exercise watching a couple dozen players who badly need some rest.”
I began to wonder if the analogy could be expanded. Why do some play while others prefer to sit and watch? Here are a few suggestions:
First, some people are more skilled than others. In sports that means the difference between winning and losing, so it only stands to reason that the players are the very best that management can find or afford.
But is it like this in the church? Do we have a mentality that says only the “more skilled” can effectively do the work of ministry, and the others who think they are less skilled should sit and watch? Christians who think this way have let the thinking of the (sports) world invade their theology. The Bible says that spiritual gifts are “given to everyone, to profit all,” and “those members of the body (of Christ) that seem to be more feeble are necessary,” not just to sit and cheer, but to use what they have to complete and complement the work of others.
Secondly, those in the playing field must exercise time and energy to become what they are, while those in the stands have other priorities. Certainly, not everyone can be a big league pitcher, or a hockey player, yet priorities are a major theme in Scripture. None of the commands in the Bible say anything like this, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, except of course if it cuts into what you want to do.” Or this, “Abstain from fleshly desires . . . unless you find it too difficult.”
Self-denial and hard work are the foundation for excellence in athletics. Certainly they have a key role in Christian ministry as well.
Thirdly, some spectators do not play because they simply don’t know anything about the game. In fact, no coach in his right mind would play a person that has never read the rule book, or never been in training camp.
Christians sometimes sit because they feel inadequate and ignorant too. In contrast, God says that we are “complete in Christ” and have all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1) We also have a “rule book,” the Spirit of God, and the example and encouragement of others who have gone before us for our instruction. Furthermore, the Lord promises wisdom to anyone who asks for it. (James 1) Ignorance and a sense of inadequacy are no excuses to sit and watch.
Another reason that some don’t play is that they prefer to coach from the sidelines. Listen at any game - most armchair quarterbacks, baseball players, and hockey fans know exactly how to call the plays, hit the home runs, and keep the opposition from scoring. Sadly, the same is true of many “armchair Christians.” They could preach a better sermon, give a better witness, teach a better class. They know all about how to do it. They just don’t do it.
Perhaps This analogy could continue. There are spectators who attend the games for a break in their routine, and there are those who go because they would like to play but are afraid to try. Others use sports to socialize, or to impress their colleagues.
Still others get a thrill from watching the action. Whatever the reasons, none of them are valid according to God’s game plan. The work of the church is successful only if everyone is involved, doing what they can at the level of skill that they have, motivated by a love for their Coach and a desire to please Him.
