Scripture Passages: Ephesians 2:1-13
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+2&version=NIV
This weeks sermon has really stuck with me all week. Kevin emphasized that good works do not get us into heaven. And of course, the bad things that we do, don't keep us out of heaven. For those of us who grew up in the church and have always thought of ourselves as relatively good and therefore not in need of a savior or God's grace, then we need to think again. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I remember being in a bible study years ago and having someone reply to a comment that I made saying "God does not grade on a bell curve." I don't remember now what I said to elicit that comment, but it really struck me that I do think that way. I think that way about many things in life. As long as I am not going any faster than the other people on the road, I won't get a speeding ticket. As long as I do as much or am as smart as the other people in my class, then I will get a good enough grade. And for those of you who know me well - you will probably have heard me say that in some situations I feel like I am holding up the bottom of the bell curve for others to look better than I. Like with my housecleaning or my lawn - I make everyone else feel like at least they are doing better than I am! Has your husband been complaining about how you keep your house? Send him over to my house and he will appreciate you more! (But don't send the kids over - they always appreciate not having to worry about making a mess at my house and will complain about how you always make them clean up.)
In last week's sermon blog, I talked about being a son or a daughter of the King and the inheritance and responsibility that goes along with that. I talked about preparing for our royal position by doing spiritual disciplines. And I do those things, at least as well as everyone else. (There I go again!) But this week we focused on the fact that our good works don't get us into heaven but should be a response to all that our Father in heaven has done for us. And I understand this concept. I am so aware of all the blessings God has given to me. I have a very generous earthly father and it makes it easy to understand how our heavenly Father just showers blessings on us!. In fact, I usually feel guilty that I have received so much when there is such suffering in the world. I often think "Why Me?" - why do I get the comfortable life in the suburbs and a great family and great kids when others have so little. And I try to pass on the blessings to others in order to balance out things. I figure God fills my cup to overflowing so that I can pass it on.
So after the sermon, Kevin comes up to me and a friend of mine, puts his arms around us and says "Ladies you don't have to do good works to get into heaven!" This is something I hear often from Kevin and it always bugs me. I know he is just trying to tell me to RELAX and appreciate that God loves me no matter what I do or don't do. But somehow I always feel like it is a judgement of my life and my motives. Like I am not giving with the right heart or the right spirit. And it makes me question myself. I can see that by reading the preceding paragraph, you could conclude that I only do good works out of guilt. And maybe there is some of that. My brother, who tends to be very cynical, says that we all do good things just to make ourselves feel like we are good people and ultimately no matter what we do for others we are always motivated by selfishness. I can see that there is some truth to that. I often go and do something for someone else when I am feeling down. It helps distract me from what I am worried about and, yes, it does give me positive feedback. When I am working on project, whether at church or elsewhere in the world - I am kind of all or nothing. So my pastor sees me putting in overtime at church and says go home! And I think - I must be doing something wrong. I am currently involved in running the Alpha class at my church (http://www.alphausa.org - for those of you who don't know what Alpha is.) I realized over the summer that I have a need to have someone tell me "good job." I was asked by my counselor (yes, I go to counseling!) why do you need anyone's approval? Isn't it just human to want some positive feedback? Do I need that more than the average person? (There I go again with the bell curve.) Does this just speak to insecurity and a lack of confidence? Which I guess brings us full circle to Kevin's words to me "Relax and appreciate that God loves you no matter what!" Well, this was a very personal, and maybe even too self centered a post. So tell me do you all struggle with the "good works" problem? Are you trying to earn your way into heaven? As I write that last sentence it clarifies for me one more thought. (I know here I go again - as if this is all about me.) I don't doubt my salvation, I know the way to receive a "ticket" to heaven. It is to believe and receive the gift that God has given us in Christ. No work on my part, just an acknowledgment of the gift and that I am a sinner and need this salvation. I think what I worry about is God's approval or how I could possible give back enough to show God my gratefulness. To show Him and others how much I love Him back. How can my life possibly glorify God when his glory is so ..... I don't even know what word to use - awesome, amazing, glorious, holy, - so far beyond us that we can't possibly reach it. Am I the only one who struggles with this? Love to hear your comments and anything else that you heard in the sermon that really struck you.
My prayer for all of us this week (and I guess especially me) is from the 3rd Chapter of Ephesians:
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Amen.
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Cynthia you are doing a good job. You are doing a great job. As a human I can't really know your deepest motives - only God can - but I can say that I know you well enough to trust you, and to know that what you do, you do with love. I think love of self vs. serving others is a false juxtaposition. It's healthy to want to think of yourself as a good person. It's healthy to feel good about your good works, not pride but a deep satisfaction. It's healthy to want to be appreciated, both for yourself and for what you do. That's how we're designed to function. If serving others pleases the Lord and gives you joy, nothing's wrong! It's wrong if you think works will save you, or will prove you don't need Jesus, or make you more important than other people, or they excuse some other sin. It's wrong to put other people's approval above the Lord's approval (glory seeking, my personal fave). It's wrong to push yourself to the point of burnout or to neglect your family or devotions by living at church. But as far as I know, you don't do those things. You just serve from love for others and an appreciation for the love and acceptance that Jesus gave you. And you have a lot of both! It's called being pure in heart, and there's a fine blessing for you. What really is the treasure in heaven? Piles of gold? or God's approval? some huge golden house? or a huge "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."? to which we can joyfully reply, "I am an unworthy servant; I have only done my duty." God loves a cheerful giver (you nail this one) so don't do it if you can't do it cheerfully. All the glory is for God - and all the joy is for you, shared with those who have the happy privilege of serving with a wonderful Christian sister like you. Relax, God loves you for who you are right now, and He delights in your love for Him and for His children.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave,
ReplyDeleteWow, what a nice response. I wasn't trying to fish for compliments, but had I been - I would have caught a big one with these comments. I enjoyed working with you in Alpha as well. Although, to be honest I did want to hit you in the head with something on occasion!
So tell me about "glory seeking, your personal fave" - what is up with that? I think for me, as I said, I like feeling good about being good. What is behind it for you - the wanting to get recognition?
So are you going to help me with Alpha in the spring? If so bring a hard hat!
YSIC,
Cynthia
Well, I don't mind if you fish for a compliment now and then. I do feel strongly about some of these issues. I hate to see decent people twist themselves inside out trying to meet the standards of the philosophical ethicist, i.e. a good deed only counts if you didn't have a motive. It's not biblical, or realistic, or healthy to think that way. And some Calvinists make it worse with their perverted doctrine of total depravity, which states that no human has even one good motive left after the fall. Decency, or moral self-respect, is part of the core or our moral person, which itself is part of the image of God in us. As we've discussed, that image is marred but nowhere in scripture are we ever told that it's removed. It's there, and when Christ enters a person's life, He revives it and makes it shine as never before, so that we, with unveiled faces, can all reflect the glory of Christ who lives in us. The world might hate you for it, but don't put yourself down for living it out in service to others and ultimately to your Lord. Didn't He say to "work for the night is coming, when no one can work"? When your motive is obedience to His command, there's not much need to second guess that! Finally, if you still struggle with this, may I suggest that you put it before the Lord once and once only. Spend an hour in prayer over this, and if the HS clearly speaks then listen. Then after that put it behind you for good, and live in peace.
ReplyDeleteMy personal fave, well, by nature I love to show off and get praise. Comes from a childhood where too much self esteem was bad and needed to be chopped down. Always wanted to be the hero so I could finally be recognized as the MVP. Entering middle age I realized how damaging that was to relationships, especially at work. So I've tried to tone it down, and instead to help others find success and maybe a little glory. Being a dad helped a lot, partly because my kids' success means more to me than my own, and also because their total acceptance and love has built my self-esteem to nearly normal levels. But when I look back, man-oh-man I must have tried some people's patience.
Sure I'll help with Alpha.
YBIC,
Dave