All work is not the same.
Some work is a response, some is obedience, while other work is a seed to invoke a response.
Sometimes we do things because we want to please God or others. We want our actions to line up with our words or beliefs. I think this is admirable and acceptable, but I’m looking to target works that are essential.
In scripture, one thing we can say for certain about the works of Jesus, is that he never tried to please God or man. God was pleased with Jesus before he did a thing. On the day of his baptism the voice of his Father spoke from heaven and declared: “…my son in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus did works he first saw his Father doing. His acts of love and demonstrations of power were acts of obedience. He had nothing to prove.
Many of us have ideas and goals for God and for our own greatness. But we also have many more thoughts and dreams that we could accomplish well in our lifetime. It’s hard enough to do one big or a few important ideas; trying to do everything that comes to mind is ridiculous.
I see an emphatic line separating two types of spiritually motivated work. Striving or serving to please God and responding or working in obedience to God personal instruction.
To break this down further, I’d say the real difference of a work in the “how” we go about it, not the “what” we’re trying to accomplish.
God is looking for our faithful response more than our initiations. It’s not about what we can give up for him, or do for this kingdom, but how much we can follow his lead.
God accepts works birthed out from intimacy. Like Jesus, whose works were first seen in the secret place, God has illustrations and examples he wants us to follow after. All our strivings will not add up to fruit that remains.
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied and cast out demons in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “
Scripture can give us the what, but only fellowship with the Holy Spirit can give the how.
Comparing the how of striving vs obedience is the difference between an Ishmael and an Isaac.
But note!! Most people who have Isaacs have Ishmaels!! And people who are afraid to have Ishmaels don’t have Isaacs.
So I don’t want to share these thoughts to get you to aim for perfection at the expense of doing nothing.
Risk is a Bible attribute. And Godly risk is not a guarantee of always being right.
The real key here is gaining freedom from working to please God. He declares his pleasure on you when He gave his son to die for you. Your freedom and holy success is in taking seriously the call to intimacy and obedience over the temptation for busyness.