Disappointed or Pleased?
No matter how forthright and well intentioned our actions may seem to us, it’s likely that they will fail someone else’s expectations. This is a disheartening realization. Our best simply isn’t good enough .. and never will be. We can study, watch, learn and try harder but we’ll never be completely successful at meeting anyone else’s expectations. This is a stark truth which we’d like to shut and lock a door on. We go to work seeking perfect reviews which are far and few between. Heartaches ensue, renewed commitments follow. We are taught to seek continuous improvements, so flaws are given decidedly more weight than achievements. We might accomplish 99% of our objectives, but that remaining 1% will return to haunt our fragile psyche’s. An A- is great but an A+ is even better? What ever happened to average? Does God agree with all of this? “The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” … “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.“ (Matthew 3:10, 17 NIV).
Matthew 3:10 (above) when applied to us sounds harsh and final. These words were spoken by John the Baptist to certain religious people of his time (Pharisees and Sadducees), who were seeking redemption solely through baptism rather than by including behavioral modification. Thinking we are doing the right things is rarely the same as actually doing the right things. We’ve conditioned ourselves to human standards. Matthew 3:17 (also quoted above) might to some, sound even more disheartening, for who can ever hope to live up to the standards of Jesus Christ? Explanatory Note: contextually this statement from God, was made at the same time that Jesus was being baptized by John the Baptist. This was before Jesus really began his ministry to share God’s Word. Before the miracles, before the cross. So what “well pleased” God? Was he pleased simply because he loves Jesus? I don’t think so, for God loves all of us, but He is not well pleased with all of us. Jesus lived God’s commands for all of His (30ish) years before he set out to teach them to others. He’s our single contradiction to the phrases “do what I say, not what I do” and “those who can do, while those who can’t teach.” Jesus lived what he said and taught by example as much as by insight or education. Producing good fruit takes time, careful effort and commitment. Don’t quit because we disappoint others, further engage to please God. We won’t get this done on our own, so instead we to need simply follow His commands.
JC Calkins with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
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