No, Seriously, How Long?

As many of you know, I am a teacher, and like all teachers, I have certain canned "Teacher Speeches".  These are the little talks that we have ready to go.  Life lessons to share when the right teachable moments comes along.

Question - Can I have extra credit?

Answer - You really aren't asking for extra credit.  That would mean that you had done everything and now you want more.  What you asking for is something to take the place of the work that you previously did not do.  So what you are asking for isn't extra credit, but ALTERNATIVE CREDIT.  See the difference?

Question - How much of this will be on the test?

Answer - All of it.  Everything.  Everything we talked about on in class, everything in the book, everything that you should have known before you got here and everything that I meant to go over, but didn't quite get to.  If you know everything, then you will be fine.

Question - How long does the paper need to be?

Answer - Write all that you have to say on the topic.  Then stop.

All of these questions are basically versions of the same question.  What is the minimum that I can do to skate by?  Recently I read a post from blogger and English teacher Peter Greene.  His answer to the how long question was great.  It may change my teacher speech on that topic.   It goes something like - You are asking what is the bare minimum that you can get away with.  You want to know how much can you limit yourself and still make it.  But here is what I want, I want to know how awesome you can be.  Show me that and it will be long enough.

So often we ask the same question of God.  What is the least that I can do to get by?  How much of my life can I hold back.  How much can I keep my heart in this world?  How little can I follow You and still receive the blessings and grace that come from being a Christian.  What is the bare minimum required?

The answer is that we aren't to be limited by minimums standards.  God wants all of us and we need to give him all that we can.

This clip from Pastor Chris is a little longer than normal, but it is well worth the watch.

The question is not how little can I do, but rather how awesome can I be.  What is my best effort?  How much can the fruits of the spirit; (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  patience and self control, ) define me and my life?   God does not want our minimum effort, He wants all of us.  

There is no alternative credit.