It was supposed to be a simple trip across the lake. Instead, the boat’s crew found themselves in the middle of a sudden storm. The wind blew violently and the waves became larger and larger. Even the seasoned fishermen of the group were quite concerned. Waves broke over the sides of their little boat, drenching everyone in the process. Something, however, was strange about the situation—one of the passengers was asleep.
Fearing for their very lives, they went to him and said, “Hey! We’re going to drown if you don’t help us out!”
So Jesus got up and said, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he told the winds to die down, and they immediately subsided. Then he went back to sleep.
Thankfully, that’s not how the story goes. In Matthew 8, we read that Jesus told both the winds and waves to stop. Some math is necessary here:
No waves + wind = a difficult trip across the lake (to be sure) and questions afterward.
No wind + waves = a capsized vessel and the potential loss of all on board.
No wind + no waves = a unanimous declaration from the disciples: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Matthew 8:27 [NIV])
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When a person becomes a Christian, the Lord begins to change their heart and mind to match his. This involves a desire to know him intimately, a concern for people that don’t yet know Jesus, and a change of attitudes and behaviors that accurately reflect God’s influence.
One of the behaviors I have recently been challenged to incorporate more in my life involves a prayer I pray before I start work: “Lord, please help me to do my absolute best and to do all things well, that I might be an positive example to those around me of who you are.”
Should being a follower of Jesus Christ mean that we can get away with not doing our best? Should it mean that we can do inferior work in comparison to those “of the world?” The answer to each of these questions is a resounding “No!”
We might not be professionals, but we’re not amateurs either.
We are to perform the work Jesus has told us to do, to the very best of our ability, in a manner that will help, rather than hinder, individuals from meeting God in a personal fashion.
Sadly, we have fallen into the trap that ‘just good enough’ is acceptable. We see it in some of the music, videos, and other merchandise available at the local Christian bookstore. We see it in ministries that desire to be ‘cutting edge’ but cannot pull it off, thus diminishing their effectiveness. We see it in the lives of individuals that claim Christ as Forgiver and Leader, then act like any ordinary person.
I’m glad that God doesn’t believe in ‘just good enough.’ When the Israelites committed sins, they had to bring sacrifices to the priest to be offered. The sacrifices varied, but had one common element—they were “without defect.” An individual could not, for example, sin and then bring a ram with a broken leg to the altar. It simply would not be accepted (see Leviticus 5:17-19). Later on, Jesus served as our sacrifice for all the errors and mistakes we have made (or will make) due to the perfect life he lived (see Hebrews 9:27-28). His actions and lifestyle showed that ‘good enough’ meant doing all things well (as evidenced by calming both the winds and the waves in Matthew 8).
Not everyone can be the CEO of a Fortune 100 company. Not everyone is called to sit in a director’s chair and create the next summer blockbuster. Not everyone will sing on television or have their own concert tour. But we all have a responsibility to do whatever we do well (1 Corinthians 10:31) It can mean the difference between faith for someone and eternity spent outside the eyes of God.
Sometimes it is as simple as making sure that all words in a brochure or bulletin for work are spelled correctly. Sometimes it means getting a second opinion before proceeding with the next step of a project. Sometimes it means taking the trash out with a smile. Who knows what opportunities to share about Jesus may arise as a result?
We cannot hide behind the disguises of inferiority and ineptitude any longer. The world needs to see our faith in Christ—and we’re just the ones to do it (Acts 1:8).
What does ‘doing all things well’ mean to you? Do your actions convey or betray your thinking? What changes will you need to make as a result?
Take time today to thank God for not settling for ‘just good enough.’ May you allow him to help you do your best today and each day forward. And in doing so, may he refresh you, so that you can in turn refresh others.
“Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
—Philippians 2:14-16a (Message)
“You are greatly mistaken if you think that to be a Christian is merely to have certain views, and convictions, and spiritual delights. This is all well, but if it leads not to a devoted life, I fear it is all a delusion. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.”
—Robert Murray McCheyne
All material copyright 2006 J. Alan Sharrer. No part of this message may be reproduced—other than the forwarding of the original, unaltered email message—without express written permission.
