Isn't it invariably true--great joys are often accompanied by great responsibilities? God gives us gift upon gift upon gift...but along with enjoying and thanking Him for each of those gifts, He also gives us stewardship responsibilities.
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Lk12:48)
God has entrusted us with the incomparable riches of the Gospel. How dare we keep it to ourselves? He has given His Word--oh what a priceless gift!--to comfort, convict, guide, equip, and strengthen us along life's journey. With whom have we shared of it's gems to encourage them on their way? He has blessed us with the gift of a nation where we can worship freely, travel freely, live freely. And He has lavished upon us the gifts of homes where we are safe and dry and warm...schools where our children--whether girls or boys--have the opportunity to learn and grow in freedom...abundant food not only to meet our families basic needs of hunger, but even to savor and enjoy with those that we love (one of God's choicest gifts, if you ask me)....beds where we can go to sleep in peace and safety and comfort...friends and families to cherish and to serve...and on and on and on...
Thank You Lord for Your relentless gift-giving to us. Oh Father, keep us grateful for that which You give, contented with what You choose to withhold, and joyful with Your timing and Your plans. Might we be quick to share of that which You have given us and ready to serve those You've placed in our paths.
Lord, You alone know our tendency to indolence and ingratitude. To seeking the easy, comfortable path rather than the way of self-sacrificial, sometimes hard service. To simply give in to our feelings rather than push through based upon our faith. Keep us strong in You, Lord, to do that which You've called us to do, even when we don't feel like it.
What made me think of all this? Well, the other day, our youngest son, Peter learned about one of the responsibilities that goes along with the joy of owning a puppy. And trust me, this is not a fun responsibility. In fact, it's downright disgusting. It involves a pooper scooper, a large trash bag and, in Peter's case, a face mask. Not that it helped much.
Yes, after all the bad weather we'd been having, it was a lovely day...which meant the time had finally come to attack the back yard and rid it of...well...I'm betting you catch the drift. I had the "privilege" of this responsibility back before the weather turned so wintry (I corrected myself--not "bad" weather but "wintry" weather! "Rejoice in the Lord always"). My dear husband stood at the kitchen window and laughed at me gagging my way around the yard. Awful. Not that I'm bitter or anything...I'm just saying I'll never, ever forget him standing there, grinning like this was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. But I digress.
So sweet Peter had the job yesterday...only he got paid for it. I'm still waiting for my combat pay. He put on a face mask (maybe that was my problem--I neglected to use that crucial bit of battle gear) and my rubber rain boots and armed with a large gatorade for strength and sustenance and the trusty pooper scooper, he was ready for war. And war it was.
Yes, with great joys--like Bingley--come great, and sometimes very grave and unpleasant, responsibilities. But it's worth it in the end. Especially after you stop gagging...which generally takes about 24 hours.
I'm learning--it's only taken me a half a century to figure this out--that when it comes to the doing part of life, we just need to push aside our tendency to delay and dilly dally and begin. We can't wait for some magical feeling (there's that word again) to take over our wills and propel us excitedly forward in doing some hard task. Nope, sometimes...well, oftentimes...actually, almost all of the time, we simply have to grab our wills by the collar and tell ourselves, "Time to start. Now! Forget the feelings. Forge ahead in the faith that this is what God's calling you to do so now do it to the best of your ability and do it to His glory. Start now and go!"
Because here's the great news: anything He's given us to do--whether it's folding laundry, washing dishes, peeling potatoes, driving to work, typing a paper, disciplining a child, or even, horrors, working with a pooper scooper--can be done with a grateful heart that seeks the glory of God in all things. And in the end, if God is glorified, alleluia! Well done, good and faithful servant!
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (I Cor.10:31)
Thank You Lord for Your gifts. And thank You for our responsibilities and the opportunities they provide to serve others and to glorify You...even in the seemingly smallest of ways. Help us to forge ahead and do whatever You've called us to do based upon our faith rather than waiting for our vacillating feelings. Might You be lifted high and glorified in all, all, all we do.
To God be the glory.
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