It was just after breakfast on a cold day and my four year old was bartering for time on our iPad. "Please can I play the iPad?"
"Not right now, maybe later if you can be a good listener." I replied
"OK, in five minutes?"
"No," I laughed, "you have to show me you can be good ALL day and then you can play it tonight."
The moment I finished the sentence I was met with a very whiny "no-ooo not ALL day!" followed but a very distraught four year old temper tantrum. I could see on his face and hear in his voice that he didn't believe for a second he could be good ALL day. It was too large of a task, too much to give up. Five minutes he could do. Maybe even until lunch time he would attempt. But ALL day seemed impossible. I stood there watching him melt down thinking just how silly he was. He wanted to play the iPad, I told him exactly what he needed to do to get what he wanted, and yet because he thinks it's too hard, he's not going to get to play at all, he's not even going to try because he thinks it's too hard.
It really wouldn't be that much of a sacrifice to be "good" all day. He could still have a lot of fun playing, he might even discover that it's more fun to play nicely instead of fighting with his siblings and ending up in time out or getting toys taken away. But because all he can see is the sacrifice, he's missing the prize.
So why is it that I can see this so clearly when I watch my four year old, but throw my own tantrums all the time when God asks difficult things of me?
"Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. " Matthew 16-22
As I watched my son whine I thought about the young man who went away sad.
Did he ever even try? Did he just say "it's too hard, the sacrifice is too much?"
How often do I think that what's being asked is too hard?
How often do I acknowledge to myself that I know what's being asked but it's too scary?
How many times have I walked away sad because I didn't believe I was capable of the task?
Jesus' disciples ask the question of our hearts:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:23-26
This is why we see this verse posted everywhere, because we need a constant reminder that He is with us and that even the most difficult things are possible because He is helping us.
Today is the first day of 2016. All over the world people are making lists of things they'd like to change about their lives. Habits to break, habits to start, goals to achieve. We are all under some kind of assumption that doing these things that we have deemed important will help us to be happier, better people. I do it too. I make New Years Resolutions every year, put them on my fridge as a daily reminder, and in October or November I find them hiding under a coloring page and realize I haven't thought of one of them since January.
I'm sure most or all of the things we all put on those lists are good for us and do make us better people. But I'm proposing a different strategy for 2016. How about instead of trying a whole bunch of our own ideas of things that will make us happier, better people, we take Jesus' advice instead?
What if the only thing we have to do is follow Him? Even if it's scary, even if it's hard, even if we have to give up A LOT. Because the sacrifice is small compared to the prize.
Then Peter said to him in reply, “We have given up everything and followed you. What will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you that you who have followed me, in the new age, when the Son of Man is seated on his throne of glory, will yourselves sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." Matthew 19: 27-30
And we might just find we have more fun in the sacrifice anyway. (Ask any Mom you know if you need proof!)
So, let's make it public...
Ann's New Year's Resolutions for 2016:
1. Follow Jesus. No matter where He leads, no matter what He asks me to leave behind.
Man, that is seriously so hard to write. I kind of feel like saying a nice whiny "no-ooo" when I think of any of the things He might ask me to give up. But He's never let me down, and I know He won't this time either. "for God all things are possible." This is going to be fun, as long as I don't throw a tantrum - pray for me!
Prayers for you on your journey in 2016!
