Would You Rather DO or BE? That is the question....

As Shakespeare famously wrote, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”  In our 21st century life of busyness, our question is more likely, “To do, or not to do?”  In our culture, WHAT you DO carries more weight in most circles than WHO you ARE.  I know there are exceptions to that rule, but isn’t part of the American dream to be able to find success and value through our efforts?

It is precisely that struggle – that striving – to DO more that challenges us in our walk of faith.  Those who consider themselves followers of Jesus lay claim to that relationship based on trust (faith) that Jesus has already done everything necessary for us to BE who He wants us to be.  Christ has saved us based on our faith in Him alone, not based on what we DO - our works.  (For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9)  But we become His so we can live a life full of good works.  (For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10)  

So is BEING good enough for a follower of Jesus, or must we be concerned with DOING as well?  James, the brother of Jesus, muddied the water even more for us by reminding us that our faith in Christ without our “doing” is just dead faith - not worth anything.  (James 2:14-26)  So then, shouldn’t we be focusing on DOING more than BEING? 

Just when I think I’ve excused my “Type A” focus on DOING as God-honoring, I’m reminded of the story of Mary and her sister, Martha.  Jesus came to visit their home and Martha, apparently the eldest, was VERY busy working to make the visit wonderful for Jesus.  Mary, the younger sister, just sat and listened to Jesus share about the things of God.  How many of us, especially those of us who are first-born, would have complained to Jesus just as Martha did?  (Luke 10:38-42)  

Did Christ excoriate Mary and urge her to get busy helping her sister?  Did He pat Martha on the back saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”?  Nope.  Jesus told Martha that Mary had it right.  The best thing that Martha could have been doing right then was just what Mary was doing.  Nothing.  Just learning how to listen to the voice of Jesus.  Finding comfort and direction and encouragement in that voice.  Was Martha’s desire to DO wrong?  No, work needs to be done.  But it needs to be done with perspective.  Martha’s efforts were WAY over the top, considering the circumstance (that’s clear from the Bible text).  

Apparently, Martha found it easier to work harder than everyone else and found that it usually brought her the greatest satisfaction and praise from others.  Does that sound like anyone you know?  Don’t we often equate our production with our value, even in the Church?  Apparently, Jesus doesn’t.  When what we DO becomes more important than who we ARE as believers, WE are the ones who lose.  That's because we’ve wrongly determined that the work of our hands is more vital to the Kingdom of God than the condition of our hearts.  Believe me, it’s not.  It is the condition of our hearts that drives the success of our efforts for Jesus, not the other way around.  That was Martha’s mistake, and is often my own.

Jacob