“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:14-15
Attitude Matters
I have one child who obeys well. If I tell this child to clean up his toys, he quietly gets down on the floor and methodically starts cleaning up. Sometimes he makes a game out of the task. Sometimes he gets distracted and I have to gently remind him what he was to be doing. He does not get distracted on purpose, and when I remind him, he gets right back to doing his chore. It may take him four times as long to complete, but when he has finished his work, he has finished it thoroughly. Only after this child is sure that he is finished cleaning does he ask about the reward I told him he would receive. As a parent, my heart is full of joy as I witness this child in action. He does not particularly enjoy cleaning. If I never asked, he would be content to leave the mess. But he obeys.
I have another child who does not obey well. If I tell this child to clean up her toys, she quickly gets down to the business of pouting. She will try to distract me, or complain that the job is too hard for her. Her sentences usually begin with the word “BUT,” and are emphasized by dramatic eye rolls, sighs, and arm crossing. By the time this child has realized that she is not going to change me, she grudgingly gets to work. Her efforts are half hearted, sloppy, and incomplete. She ends up taking four times as long to complete the task because I had to correct her multiple ways. By the time she has finished the task, she has lost out on the reward at the end. She may have even earned herself a time out.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).
Our Heavenly Father cares about the attitudes of His children. He cares how we handle the tasks He has given us. He wants us to follow His directions with willing hearts. He doesn’t want our obedience to be stale and bitter, or done out of resentment because we are hoping to avoid punishment. But the choice is ours. Every day, we can choose to obey Him heartily, or we can choose to complain and delay. One leads to peace and joy, the other leads to heart disease.
“Disease: A particular quality, habit, or disposition regarded as adversely affecting a person or group of people.”
Indeed.
“Dear heavenly Father, thank You for Your loving corrections. We can choose to obey You heartily today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”