So There Are You Happy Now?

Some people need a motivation check.  And by "some people", I mean all of us some times and a few people all of the time.  There may be people who always have their hearts in the right place, but I don't think that I know any, and I am sure that I am not one.  Sometimes we do what we do begrudgingly, without joy or love; only going through the motions.  Now I suppose that doing the right thing begrudgingly is better than doing the wrong thing with joy, but it sure isn't the same as approaching a righteous task with a happy heart.

 

It makes me think about what it's like when we make little kids apologize.  Often, they are not sorry about anything, but need to say the apology to avoid a greater punishment.  So they say it, with a forced tone and a bitter heart.

"Sorry.  So there are you happy now?" 

 

But who among us haven't approached an upcoming task with the heart of a stubborn child.  I sure have.  "OK, I'll do it, but you can't make me be happy about it." And we finish up with, "So there, are you happy now?"  

Of course we should be different.  As Christians we are called to do more than help those in need.  We are called to love them too.  There are many avenues for help for those in need.  I think the difference between a church and a secular organization is some organizations help the needy; a church should want to help the needy.   Because no matter what we do, if we don't do it in love, we are not really doing the work of Christ.

Watch this clip from Pastor Lowell.

1 Corinthians 13 is the famous chapter on love that you have heard at 90% of weddings that you have ever been to.   In context it tells us that we can be blessed by great spiritual gifts, tremendous abilities, staggering wealth, but in the midst of it all if we have a bad attitude it means nothing.  

From time to time we all need a motivation check.  We need to ask ourselves why we are doing what we are doing and bring love back into the center.