When I was a teaching assistant in Old Testament at seminary, a student questioned the mark that I gave for an assignment; the explanation for challenging the mark was that the student had put hours and hours into this paper. I said to the student that I could only mark the paper handed in, not the effort behind writing it.

If we’ve put in a lot of effort on something maybe we think that other people should acknowledge that and give us extra credit for it. But in reality people only give us credit for what they actually see is produced, the end result. Whatever effort we put into preparing for something, making something, or going somewhere, is our business. We just did it. It adds no benefit in the eyes of others, because they don’t know even if it affected the end result/product. So it is important NOT to require other people to give us brownie points for the effort that we’ve put into something. Instead, “Serve the Lord cheerfully” (Psalm 100:2a God’s Word©)

We benefit by the work we put into it because we learn something or the discipline is good for us or whatever, but they get nothing out of it directly – the end product is still only the end product. “Don’t do your duty only while you’re being watched, as if you merely wanted to please people. Do your duty like slaves who belong to Christ, who have a deep desire to do what God wants them to do” (Ephesians 6:6).

In our Canadian society we overdo that everyone should get an award or prize (participation) out of a false notion that if we do not stroke the ego of everyone they may end up damaged, but more damage is done giving them a false expectation that the world should always praise them just because, not because they actually accomplished something in a manner worthy of special note.

And what can be assessed is the end result, not participation or the time it took to finish.

Spiritually, everything we do should exalt Jesus, as Paul said, “I planted, and Apollos watered, but God made it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is important because only God makes it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6,7 God’s Word©).

No matter how old or weak you may be you are never worthless!

It is true that some people spend their whole lives helping others. When they can no longer do that they feel useless.

LOGIC: If the people you helped wouldn’t have needed help you would not have been helpful!

Maybe it is your turn to give someone else the ministry of helping others.

We, however, live in an anti-God culture, and so we are taught that you have to make your own way.

LIES!

Jesus said that “you can’t produce anything without me” ( John 15:5b God’s Word Translation©). We do not make it on our own; we are not alone, The Spirit works wonders through us, and in us, but not in mere human strength!

Perhaps at one time you were the neighbour, like the Samaritan of the parable (Luke 10:25-37), but now you find yourself the one beaten down, near death, and some other person becomes the neighbour who helps and who is called to “Go and imitate his example!” (Luke 10:37 God’s Word Translation©).

It is past the time when we should stop telling God what we will do, and listen for the whisper of The Spirit Who says what we are to do!

Never do in your strength. Always do the in power of God by The Spirit.

When you ask, “Why is this happening to me?”, who is the centre of your universe?

When Jesus was dying on the cross at the hands of brutal people, was the question from the cross, “Why me?” or a plea to “Pay them Back?”?

No. Jesus did not die for self. Jesus died for others, even as they sinned and abused and mocked the Saviour Who died to save them.

If anyone loves God with heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5), and others at least as much as they love themselves (Leviticus 19:18), Jesus would be the centre of their universe, in good times and disasters.

Would such a person not come to realize that the question is not, “Why me?”, but “How can God save or strengthen those around me?”

Life from The Spirit is not for what I can get out of it, but how I can, in all things, shed the Light of Christ into a dark and broken world.

As a disciple of Jesus I already have the ultimate reward, salvation in this world and eternal peace and life in the next. What more do I need?

Why do I want a life that feeds my temporary ego/flesh instead of bringing hope and healing to people at the working of The Spirit?

Jesus came into the world to bring eternal life to all who believe, not temporary personal pleasures.

A soldier concerned only with personal pleasures and ego-stroking would be useless. So with us.

“The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (2 Peter 3:9 God’s Word Translation©).

Does this verse also describe your life goal?

That’s a good question.

The Bible is about God.

Yet people read it for political proofs, religious ideology, for use as a weapon against those with whom they disagree or find unacceptable and as a verification for their own heresies or adrenaline to feed their “I’m-right” ego.

The Bible is about being on God’s Team (with God as the highest honcho) and non-debatable love for each and every one of God’s creations.

If your reading gives you permission to judge and condemn anyone of any time or place, prideful assurance that your doctrine or culture is superior to others, or seems useful as an excuse to abuse or hold power over others, you are not reading The Bible God commissioned, but a social distortion for human justification for wrongdoing.

“The tree had fruit that was good to eat, nice to look at, and desirable for making someone wise [“like a god” Genesis 3:5]” Genesis 3:6.

From the beginning people chose whatever satisfied their personal consumption, titillated them in their vision and set them up to play god.

The Divine Plan was for people to serve in creation, walk with God and nurture each other.

I plan, God being my helper, to follow the Plan and benefit the Community, not my little self-centred, self-created universe. Yes, the price is high, but it is better than the religious vandalism that allows people to mutilate creation and destroy other people.

In the God’s Word Translation the word “wait” occurs 162 times in the Bible! Why?

Because people, wanting to be like God, want to do when God wants to do it for us and through us. We are constantly forced to review the Garden of Eden sin, lusting “to be like God” (Genesis 3:4).

Today is the anniversary of Pentecost, the day the Body of Christ (Church) was truly born.

In a spectacular way God demonstrated that God can do it, and people can join in.

“Once, while [Jesus] was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, ‘I’ve told you what the Father promises: John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’|” (Acts 2:4-5 God’s Word Translation©)

The Church (not congregations) exists because God is at work, NOT because people are smart, skilled, or simply sensational.

Wait for God to lead, call and do. Serve God. Do not chase your need to be a famed or noticed champion deserving accolades and honour!