Chores

If you could have anything you want what would it be?

Now think about what it is you want as you read the following:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world-the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches-comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. - 1 John 2:15-17

Everything I thought of that I would want are of this world.  Even if I would seek health and a long life, I am seeking worldly things.

But if it is wrong to think in these terms, then I need another way of looking at my life, because it seems almost cruel then that God would put us in a world we are not supposed to fall in love with.

John tells us we are to focus on doing God's will, and if we do that, we will live forever.

I guess he thinks we need that as a motive for doing what God intends for us to do in this world.  It's like doing our chores.  Throw out the trash and you will get to go out and play with your friends.

To get to the fun stuff, I needed to do the grunt work.  Cleaning my room and putting out the trash were never the things I desired.  They were simply a means to an end.  Once I got them out of the way, I was free.

It could be that John wants us to do the same.  Take care of God's work first and then be free to enjoy the rewards.

But something happens when I take care of the chores first.  I begin to enjoy the way my room looks when it is cleaned up, and I like the fact that the garbage is not overflowing the trash container.

I learn to appreciate the world more when I care for it.

The same is true when I do God's work.  I start to fall in love with those I come to serve.

So, by appealing to my desire to have eternal salvation, God gets me to love as He loves, to be like Him.

That's what makes it special.  I set out to live forever, and in the process I live better in this world now.

Clever tactic.

So, what can I do today to help you?

More to come...