Proverbs 27.2
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”
God calls us to work hard to produce results. That is the way God has designed the universe to function (remember: God himself labored and worked to create the world). Working for results is a reality in every sphere of life. The farmer who is not results-oriented will not feed himself, his family, or his community. The doctor who is not results-oriented would make a very poor surgeon. The salesperson or executive who doesn’t produce will lose their job. Results matter.
“Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.” (Proverbs 18.9)
Should we be disappointed when desired results are not produced? Absolutely! God’s design is not for us to be indifferent or apathetic toward achievement. If results matter (and they do), disappointment is a natural consequence of failing to achieve. Even a cursory reading of scripture reveals many instances when God is disappointed — even angry — when desired results are not produced.
But there is a huge difference between Spirit-directed disappointment and self-directed disappointment. The first leads to wisdom and growth; the latter to frustration, discouragement, and self-pity.
When we respond to the call of Christ, our identity is not in the results we produce; our identity is in the God we serve. This actually empowers us to do more and better work in order to produce better results. It is my belief that the Christian who walks with Jesus is in a position to maximize their performance/productivity because their mind is not distracted by the fear of performing below expectations or distorted by the desire to boost ego. All of their focus and energy goes into doing their job. They are motivated to serve God and others, not to avoid criticism or achieve recognition.
What is ironic is that God is both infinitely more accepting and infinitely more demanding than any human audience. He sees our failings and weaknesses, yet still loves us and fully embraces us. There is nothing we can do performance-wise that would cause him to love us more or love us less.
Yet at the same time, the Lord calls us to standards of living and working that are higher than any standard on earth. And the Lord constantly evaluates us … not just our behavior, but our innermost thoughts and motives. Who can withstand such scrutiny? Who can hold up under that kind of relentless, piercing critique? The answer: People who have surrendered to Christ, who are redeemed by the blood of the cross, and who have experienced God’s grace. People who know that they are loved by God and called into relationship with him, and who also know that God is working in them and through them to accomplish purposes far greater than self.
“Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” (Proverbs 19.15)
Want ethic vs work ethic is a serious problem in our society. There is a great deal in the 21st century social environment that stimulates and encourages wanting, but not nearly enough that consistently stimulates and motivates working.
- You don’t get the marriage you want, you get the marriage you work for.
- You don’t get the career you want, you get the career you work for.
- You don’t get the physical fitness you want, you get the fitness you work for.
- You don’t the spiritual maturity you want, you get the maturity you work for.
Even within the Christian community there is strong resistance to the reality that disciplined effort and diligent work are necessary for spiritual growth. This is surprising given how clear scripture is regarding the necessity for disciplined effort.
God has created a universe of cause-and-effect where diligent work is a core discipline. Work is how stuff gets made, problems get solved, things get fixed, and goals are achieved. Work is what makes things work. That is God’s design.
I pray that the Christian community awakens to the priority and necessity of wise, disciplined, Christ-centered work.
“Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.” (Ephesians 6.5-8)
