Yesterday we had a guest speaker at church, since our regular pastor was out of town. He preached on the book of Habakkuk.
Seriously, how cool is that? How often do you hear a sermon on the book of Habakkuk?
Anyway, one particular thing he said really struck me. He asked the question, “Do we, like children, complain so much God thinks it’s just easier to do it himself?”
I was reminded of a conversation I had on Facebook recently where a group of people was discussing children and chores, and whether or not it is easier to just do chores yourself or take the time to teach them how.
Teaching children to do chores is a long, laborious process, involving hours spent demonstrating and redoing, showing again, and having to do it yourself anyway when shoddy work is done, not to mention that it takes kids about 73 times as long to accomplish a job you could do yourself in moments.
And, of course, there is the inevitable complaining. “Mommy, I don’t want to do dishes! I want to play!” “Mommy, I’m tired of cleaning the bathroom!” And so on and so forth, stalling and procrastinating until the diswater is cold and the bathroom needs to be cleaned all over again and the house is dirtier than it was before you started “cleaning.”
Segue to the spiritual application. Have you ever had the nudging of the Holy Spirit telling you to do something? Felt the urge to accomplish something specific, to speak to or pray for someone who may be hurting or in need, to go somewhere or give up something? Has God ever told you do do something that is not on the top of your list of super-fun things to do?
So when that happens, what do you do? Like a child, do you complain? “But God, I don’t wanna! I’m tired of going out of my way to do that for that person who annoys me!” “But God, I don’t want to serve in the church, I have my own things to do!” “But God, You have the cattle on a thousand hills, why do you need my 10%?”
Another thing that this guest speaker said, “God doesn’t need any more baby Christians.”
He has enough of those. As Christians, we have a responsibility, not only to believe God, but to obey Him. To do as He says and to grow, to become more like Him and less like the world, to portray Him in all we do rather than justify sin and immaturity, complaining to God, saying, “I don’t wanna! I want to play!”
And on that note, I’ve always thought this song was funny, and it fits well with the topic. Enjoy!
Funny you should post about this. The preacher yesterday at the church I have been visiting talked about how God doesn’t change His mind. When He lays something on our heart, He wants us to do it for however long it takes us to get it done. The failing is always ours and no matter how well we convince ourselves that God has changed His mind, He hasn’t.
As far as a baby-Christians. I think God wants them but perhaps He doesn’t want those of us that have been with Him for years to revert back to baby-Christians. Is that what you mean?
Exactly! Not to say He doesn’t want more babies “born,” just that we shouldn’t stay babies!
Dearest Avily,
You bring up a good point, but I believe that God has more patience than you or I could ever imagine, but I can truly understand where you are coming from. Raising a child can be quite tedious. I think that the pay off is remarkable though. Look what God gave me. (Diane and her siblings,and all their off spring) Thank you Jesus for all that you have blessed me with!
I can really relate to this.
Obedience is one of my biggest issues as a Christian, since it seems I still haven’t outgrown my rebellious stage. My first instinct when told to do something is to dig in my heels and fight back, or at the very least grumble and complain.
Thankfully our Father is the truest example of patience, and willing to teach if we will submit to Him. And for now at least, I can use the excuse that I’ve only been saved for three years. ;P