Hah, that makes a little more sense. The question is a little leading(the word "overachieving" immediately implies there is a limit), but I understand what you're getting it. And I think you know my opinion, although I don't know if I'm qualified to state it. Because my personality IS more laid-back, I really despise having too many things to do...and not having time to just relax and enjoy the goodness of the LORD. But on the flip side, God has given us some incredible talents and we shouldn't waste our days away in the name of "contentment".
Nonetheless, it's extremely hard to pinpoint "the limit". I do feel there is a limit, though - because I feel that if we are NOT setting aside our earthly passions in order that we may spend time with our most glorious Savior through prayer and the Word, and if we do not set aside time to build our close relationships and if we do not spend time to let our bodies naturally rest, then we have a problem.
All in all, it comes down to the glory of God. We need to be seeking His will in all that we do, not our own! And I think if we are truly seeking Him, He will guide us in the way we should go.
It makes sense. I think it's interesting that how those two forces are constantly in conflict in life. Whether it be rest vs. restlessness, contentment vs. overachievement (in school, in sports, in work), we are often expected to perform "above and beyond" in this world. Yet if we are Christians, we don't need to prove ourselves to God by overachieving in anything. All God wants from us, I think, is to know Him, trust Him, and simply do His will (Micah 6:8 comes to mind). It would do us service to remember sometimes, that He doesn't _really_ care about _how much_ we do--work is not valuable in itself, unless you remember the Creator of work.
I also think that the Scripture--Genesis 3 in particular--puts this problem in perspective for us. Why did Eve take the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil? The serpent said to her: "You can be like God." Notice that the temptation was specifically in regard to something _better_ than what she had now. She was, after all, created in the image of God, but that alone was not sufficient to satisfy her--she needed to achieve something better by eating this fruit.
In that light, I think the first sin undermines trust--Eve had a choice to trust the Word of God over what the serpent had to say. What was reasonable? To achieve being like God in regard to knowledge? Or to remain as is, taking God's Word at face value?
And today for us--what is reasonable? To stay within the limit that God has set for us in His Wisdom? Or is it more reasonable to transgress that limit?
I am afraid we often pursue the latter, though we don't always have good reasons to.
Obedience could be as simple as choosing to get eight hours of sleep instead of incessantly pushing yourself to be hardcore, extra-human, almost "like God." Or it could be as complicated as ____ (fill in the blank).
What if we're all called to be "overachievers"? Aren't our lives here on this Earth for the purpose of serving God, as James said? Every moment of our lives should ideally be an effort to serve Him.
On the other hand, does this mean that you should get no more than four hours of sleep per night? No, that sleep refreshes you to serve God another day (Ecc. 5:12). Should you refuse to sit down, relax, and read a book? No, God made us to need these times of rest (Ex. 20:8-10). Should you abstain from long, enjoyable meals with those you love? No, the times of fellowship and enjoying God's good gifts are sweet (Rev. 3:20).
My point (which is, I think, in agreement with both of you) is that we do not need to find some limit and then decide whether to cross it or not. There is no limit. Instead, there is a standard. And that standard is, as you both said or implied, the glorification of God.
I feel a little silly/dumb for asking, but....can you clarify???
ReplyDeleteI guess I should have clarified. I tend to get these random thoughts in my head and just spew them out publicly like this.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, what I meant is that:
"Do you see overachieving--whether in academia, work, sports, or even in the number of your commitments--as good or bad? And why?"
Hah, that makes a little more sense. The question is a little leading(the word "overachieving" immediately implies there is a limit), but I understand what you're getting it. And I think you know my opinion, although I don't know if I'm qualified to state it. Because my personality IS more laid-back, I really despise having too many things to do...and not having time to just relax and enjoy the goodness of the LORD. But on the flip side, God has given us some incredible talents and we shouldn't waste our days away in the name of "contentment".
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, it's extremely hard to pinpoint "the limit". I do feel there is a limit, though - because I feel that if we are NOT setting aside our earthly passions in order that we may spend time with our most glorious Savior through prayer and the Word, and if we do not set aside time to build our close relationships and if we do not spend time to let our bodies naturally rest, then we have a problem.
All in all, it comes down to the glory of God. We need to be seeking His will in all that we do, not our own! And I think if we are truly seeking Him, He will guide us in the way we should go.
Any of that make sense? ???
It makes sense. I think it's interesting that how those two forces are constantly in conflict in life. Whether it be rest vs. restlessness, contentment vs. overachievement (in school, in sports, in work), we are often expected to perform "above and beyond" in this world. Yet if we are Christians, we don't need to prove ourselves to God by overachieving in anything. All God wants from us, I think, is to know Him, trust Him, and simply do His will (Micah 6:8 comes to mind). It would do us service to remember sometimes, that He doesn't _really_ care about _how much_ we do--work is not valuable in itself, unless you remember the Creator of work.
ReplyDeleteI also think that the Scripture--Genesis 3 in particular--puts this problem in perspective for us. Why did Eve take the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil? The serpent said to her: "You can be like God." Notice that the temptation was specifically in regard to something _better_ than what she had now. She was, after all, created in the image of God, but that alone was not sufficient to satisfy her--she needed to achieve something better by eating this fruit.
In that light, I think the first sin undermines trust--Eve had a choice to trust the Word of God over what the serpent had to say. What was reasonable? To achieve being like God in regard to knowledge? Or to remain as is, taking God's Word at face value?
And today for us--what is reasonable? To stay within the limit that God has set for us in His Wisdom? Or is it more reasonable to transgress that limit?
I am afraid we often pursue the latter, though we don't always have good reasons to.
Obedience could be as simple as choosing to get eight hours of sleep instead of incessantly pushing yourself to be hardcore, extra-human, almost "like God." Or it could be as complicated as ____ (fill in the blank).
What if we're all called to be "overachievers"? Aren't our lives here on this Earth for the purpose of serving God, as James said? Every moment of our lives should ideally be an effort to serve Him.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, does this mean that you should get no more than four hours of sleep per night? No, that sleep refreshes you to serve God another day (Ecc. 5:12). Should you refuse to sit down, relax, and read a book? No, God made us to need these times of rest (Ex. 20:8-10). Should you abstain from long, enjoyable meals with those you love? No, the times of fellowship and enjoying God's good gifts are sweet (Rev. 3:20).
I didn't sum that up very well.
ReplyDeleteMy point (which is, I think, in agreement with both of you) is that we do not need to find some limit and then decide whether to cross it or not. There is no limit. Instead, there is a standard. And that standard is, as you both said or implied, the glorification of God.