Depending on God for everything…
Jan 13th, 2010 by ljkim
Imagine if someone started med school…only instead of actually going to classes, hearing the lectures, reading the books – he decided to wander the country in search of medical knowledge… then he comes back after he fails his boards saying “What do you want from me? Can’t you see I’m doing my best?!?!”
Or imagine a new hire working at a consulting firm…only instead of using his desk and computer and office and library services, he decided to go to the public library to use the internet and make copies, and takes his meetings at Starbucks. Later he comes into the office with a poor performance review and says, “What do you want from me?!?! Can’t you see how I suffer to do this job? Can’t I get a little help here?”
I know these are stupid examples… Sorry. But they’re stupid because no one would ever do these things… Because when it comes to work or education, we know better than to do things on our own. When you enroll in a school, the school gives you the resources (if it’s a good school) to learn the material. When you join a company, the company will give you the resources you will need to do your work… They don’t just provide for the big turning points, the big exams, the big projects – but they provide what you will need step by step, every step of the way… So that (ideally), you’ll be able to do everything that is required of you, and be able to do the things you really want to do…
What makes you think living for Jesus would be any different? “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing…If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:4-7).
The main idea is that you are not expected to do everything on your own… Actually, you’re not expected to do ANYTHING on your own really. The only way you can do everything (the stuff God wants, the stuff you want, the ways you need to grow – the things you need to accomplish – everything!) is by leaning on Him. Relying on His power available to those who belong to Him.
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I’ve been thinking of such things a lot lately. I’ve been working with a client who wants me to do all kinds of things, and if I don’t, she takes matters into her own hands and does the things I’ve said no to. It’s not that I’m saying no because I don’t want to trouble myself — it’s because I don’t think they’re good moves. Her efforts are not only costing her a lot of time and stress, but are also undermining her interests. I was getting so frustrated… and then realized how I do the same thing all the time with God, only more so. I’m glad he’s more in control than I am with my client — that he can work things out for the best anyway, unlike me for my client.