“To whom much is given, much will be required…” –
Ah, Grace!
Obviously, from the previous posts, I have been learning a lot about grace. It hasn’t been an easy subject to wrap my mind around. My willfulness gets in the way – especially when I realize there are some things that come my way that I can’t work for, hustle for or earn no matter how I try… I can’t do anything to deserve it…
It’s like sunlight. Try all I want, I can’t earn sunlight. It is here for me free of charge. (Well, maybe this is a bad example on the east coast, considering the wintry weather we’ve been experiencing.)
So I have been thinking… it is easy to misunderstand Grace.
Last post, I talked about Grace as God breaking all the rules to meet your needs…. God’s willingness to use all His power, His infinite resources to meet your needs.
It’s easy to think, “I have been given all I need, now what?”
You are being given all you need for good work. You have decided to make a positive impact in the world, and now the resources have come your way.
What do you do?
It’s easy to stretch out your legs and fold your arms and think, ” It’s over… I mean, I have everything I need right…. So I don’t have to do anything – it will be provided for me.”
Or you might find yourself paralyzed after getting what you’ve asked for. Perfectionism, fear of failure and even the fear of success can send you scurrying into a corner. You’re afraid of making a fool of yourself and so you do nothing.
You doubt yourself, wondering if the dream you had was realistic or legit. You look for a new set of signs to confirm that this is what you are supposed to do.
Either way, you suddenly find that you are doing nothing even though Grace has made a way in the wilderness for you.
So, if Grace has made a way, and you have everything you need, should you sit back and do nothing?
On the contrary, because the rules are being broken on your behalf, because you have access to an infinite source of resources, You honor grace by working. You honor Grace by harnessing the power that has been sent your way. You honor Grace by using every single resource that is available to you.
For example, being born American. There are so many benefits, opportunities and resources that come with being American. But those born here have to honor their citizenship and diligently work to harness the power that comes with that citizenship – making a positive impact in the world.
To whom much is given, much is required… Yes, much is expected of you.
You are not given grace so that you can hang out in the easy chair! No. Grace is given so that you will harness its power for good work.
Do not waste it. Do not waste the gifts bestowed on you.
The Door is finally open – walk through it!
Now Go… You know what needs to be done. Don’t waste any more time. Go, change the world with your good work.
See you next time!
Cultivating Responsiveness to Grace:
1. What good works are you being called to do?
2. What opportunities and resources are you wasting right now?
3. What is holding you back? Perfectionism, Fear of success? Fear of failure? Lack of motivation?
4. What habits do you need in place to become more responsive? More diligent?
5. What does the saying “To whom much is given, much is required” mean to you?
6. With whom can you partner to hold you accountable for being more responsive?
7. What step can you take right now to honor your calling in response to the Grace you experience?
You have everything you need. If you feel overwhelmed, think of the smallest step you can take. Take it. Then take another and another. Grace will give you the momentum to continue to completion. Hang tough! See you next time!
Yvonne Whitelaw writes for Yvonnewhitelaw.com where she blogs about her quest to grow into her ideals in her “Live Your Ideals Project”. By sharing her Daily Haikus and lessons along the way (every Monday and Thursday), she hopes to serve and inspire a tribe of wholehearted humanitarians, visionaries and idealists like you, to “live your ideals, live your calling and change the world.”