Out here in the Fields

The Who have a song that talks about working hard, not on principle, but just because it is required in life. The song begins "Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals, I put my back into my living". Well, well, well. It sounds like most evangelical churches have been secretly listening to The Who for guidance.

Do, pray, deprive self, work, pay attention, study, exercise, save (deprive self again) oh, and . . . the magic word that opens all heavenly doors ... give. Give to others, give to God (the church acts sort of as a sales agent for God, so they can take your donations to God), give to your family, give at work, give while at play. Second message: since you will be doing a lot of giving, get a high paying job.

But God's message is "as you came to Me, so live." Well, I came to God with nothing to offer Him. He saved me, not the reverse. His love sustains me. His grace allowed my error before God saving me and His grace does the same thing now. God's message is stand, wait, abide. I will as if I still have nothing to offer Him, since I don't. No wonder God wants to work via the Holy Spirit through us: it is the only way anything of value could possibly get done. God loves us for who we are and not for what we do (Sorry, Batman).

While we're "out here in the fields", it is God's job to do the work. So what is your next big step in life? Don't ask me, but I do know this: Christian can't fall from being the apple of God's eye. So go ahead, work hard for God. Or not. Only you and God know what God's love looks like to you. THAT is how big God is: He is that small.