Do you remember your first job? I’ve had many in my life. I started working at 15 years old. I was paid, under the table, to work construction for a summer. Those who know me well will laugh at that image! I was barely 100 pounds when wet. I did small labor around the site and tasks nobody wanted to do. They paid me well, but had little use for me as their projects moved forward. Once I turned 16 I began to anticipate working more.
I was hired by a dollar store named “Deal$, everything a dollar.” I worked with two men from my church who managed the store. I was employed there for a year and half.
I worked at a farming supply store behind a tire desk and in a warehouse. I was a gas station attendant and retail pharmacy technician. I worked for an antique shop putting items on ebay. I worked for over 5 years in hospital pharmacies in Illinois and WIsconsin.
Everywhere I worked they promised me money. The frustrating thing is; they expected me to work for the promise!
As followers of Jesus we’ve been promised many things. A promise to never be alone. A promise to have our brokenness healed.
While the promises of God are wonderful things to hold close, especially in times of frustration, there is a side to them we tend to neglect.
In the book of Joshua the people of Israel are pursuing The Promised Land. It is a land that has been theirs since God promised it to them when Abraham walked the earth. Many centuries and generations passed before the people of Israel put their eyes on the land God told them about.
The people had seen God do some amazing things over the years. He saved them in a land that was never theirs, then sent them a deliverer (Moses) when they were enslaved in that land. He led them into the wilderness and gave them laws to build a society around (Ten Commandments). He protected them and provided food and water in the desert.
Here we find the people. On the banks of the Jordan River. They can literally see the promised land. Moses is gone and Joshua is now their leader.
He sends spies into the land. They come back and report that there are inhabitants who are hostile and giant. But I thought the land would be waiting for them. It was promised, right? What God promises is easy, right?
If we look forward we see that God does give them the land. However, it takes much effort, obedience, and sacrifice on the part of the Israelites.
Now, let me be clear, there is no way the Israelites get the land promised without God’s intervention. And God’s part in the land’s aquisition was far greater than that of the Israelites. I can imagine that may be part of the frustration that leads to God sending the people into exile multiple times. I can imagine being fed up with the discrepancy between his effort and that of his people.
If you read the book of Judges, which shows us what happened after the Israelites aquired their place in The Promised Land, you’ll find that the people constantly forgot God and did what was right in their own eyes. It also makes it a point to say “In those days Israel had no king.” The promises God made to the Israelites once they had the land are often “If… Then…” promises. We find that the people neglected their part because they believed God would come through anyway.
We tend to think the same thing sometimes, don’t we? God made us promises, so we slip into mediocrity.
We forget that in addition to God’s promises, he commands us to “do.” Make disciples, love your neighbor, pray, fear God, tithe, take part in community, keep the commandments…
God will always make good on his promises, regardless of our effort. God’s promises are dependant on him, and him alone. What he says will be done, will be done.
However, it is time for us to realize that we have too often been people using the promises of God as an excuse to be mediocre. We must pursue what God has called us to; the hard road of excellence, the small burden he gave us of obedience. And we must always remember, what the Israelites were reminded of many times, it is our burden that is small in comparison to the enormous work has done in us and our world.
~ Pastor Travis