Driven or Drawn?
January 21, 2008
By Jerry Scott
The unrelenting responsibility of life can seem
overwhelming. Just about everyone I know has moments when the
struggle with weeds, rust and rot seems endless. We all become tired,
frustrated or fed up from time to time.
Weariness becomes more of a problem when we allow life to
drive us instead of letting the Lord draw us! When I look
at my calendar and see meetings and deadlines filling up day
upon day, my adrenalin surges. Before long I find myself a slave to those
tasks, driven by a need to "get it done" instead of rejoicing in the
opportunity to make a difference in the world. Either way the work is
accomplished, but if the focus is just on checking off tasks, I become a cranky
man, not too pleasant to be around, and certainly not marked by the
presence of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
When I step back and start to thank God for the
opportunities to teach, to counsel, and even for the more mundane work involved
with being the pastor a local congregation, I still get tired. But
because I am drawn along by a sense of His calling, I don't get that desperate
feeling that the work is about to consume me.
This isn't just "pastor" stuff. Whatever you do,
you can let the work drive you, or you can present yourself to the Lord and let
Him draw you along. We are called to be hard workers, diligent in doing our
job, with the right perspective. And what is that? Take a look. "Work
with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for
people" (Ephesians 6:7, NLT). There it is. Do what you do, not just to
make a living or to keep the boss off your back, but to please the Lord.
Do you see your work as an opportunity to serve the Lord? If
you're stressed by life today, let me encourage you to take a few minutes to
readjust your focus. Instead of complaining about the responsibilities, thank
God for the opportunities. Instead of just getting the work done, look for ways
to do the work well for the Lord's sake. "Make the most of every
opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what
the Lord wants you to do" (Ephesians 5:16,17).
-- Jerry D. Scott is senior pastor at Washington (N.J.)
Assembly of God.
