Selwyn now moves onto a new lesson – and it’s sometimes relevant for the ‘busy’ people serving God in their local Church. These people often take on too many tasks – with little prayer and patience in asking God for confirmation – that they have been given this work. I think that one sign is – there is no peace or joy seen in them – while they are doing their chores; and, much of what they do, often unravels or is not productive.
He starts and finishes, today’s study: “Another important lesson we need to learn if we are to walk tall in these changing times is this: avoid the snare of over-involvement. … Frustration comes when we try to save the world (by our own efforts). That is God’s job. Watch that you don’t stumble under enormous spiritual concerns that exceed the number God would have you carry.”
In the first five verses, Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel, which Selwyn refers to, we read (NLT): ‘After saying all these things, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.” ‘
We demonstrate our love of God by doing the work, He has given us to do. We don’t try to do every good thing which comes our way, to earn God’s love. It’s amazing how many Christians there are, who say that they are not saved by good works [God alone saves us, we can’t do anything to save ourselves]; yet, they live their lives as if it were not true!
Put another way, we do God’s work in response to His love – it’s a visible sign of our relationship with Jesus. We do not do good works to earn ‘credits’ in God’s eyes; with a view that we may earn sufficient credits for Him to value us enough, to be saved. Many of man’s religions, work on the basis of earning credits by doing good works; to balance out the weight of their sins and to please God. People, who subscribe to such an idea, do not have a relationship with Almighty God – they do not know Him.
Do you agree?