Do you ever wonder what is worthwhile? What works? What is effective? Does it ever feel that the energy you expend, as a mother, a pastor, a musician, a writer, a follower of Jesus and a witness of His Gospel, is ineffective? Do you ever feel your efforts are futile?
You are not alone.
Jesus Himself wondered, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you?” (Matt. 17:17, NKJV). He told His followers to expect a cold reception at times and directed them in no uncertain terms to form clear boundaries to protect effectiveness: “…whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet” (Matt. 10:14).
So is it worth it?
It is a significant issue for perseverance in following and serving Jesus. It was a question underlying many of Paul’s epistles, the prophets’ ministry, Jesus’ foreshadowing of the need for perseverance in the time after His departure from this earth. Discouragement comes easily; perseverance is challenging. And we must–if we are to be people after God’s own heart in the authenticity of our self-assessment of meaning and purpose and significance–we must ask:
Is it worth it? A complex question, yes? I hear three perspectives on perseverance when we wonder if we’re getting anywhere with our efforts.
First, is our presence and work accepted, received, welcomed? The question is not–is not–a question of financial success, social status, or public accolades. It is a question of the life-giving effect of our relationships, love, ministry, work. Two of the most effective ministers in my life are my paternal grandfather and a lady who did housekeeping for my parents. I never paid them; neither of them was well known; neither was a pastor. But God used these two people to give me life in Jesus Christ. They were effective in large part because I welcomed, accepted, and absorbed their love. It is important to spend energy where that energy is accepted.
Second, however, effectiveness is a mystery. This is nowhere as apparent as it is in parenting. I am sure that my parents felt, during the time before my sobriety, that they had failed; their son was a wreck. I remember scoffing when my mother said, quoting Joel, “(God) will restore the years that the …locust has eaten…. Then you shall know that (God) is the Lord…and (God) will pour out His Spirit on (you)” (Joel 2:25-28). What mom had prayed and claimed did in fact take place, or I would not be writing this blog today. But she actually saw only the beginning of God’s work in my life. For the effectiveness of her witness to and love for me was and is a mystery, one which is only partially disclosed on this earth.
Third, effectiveness can not be assessed by outcome measures alone; it is a matter of faithfulness. We are, in the western world, even in the western church, often defined by measurable, quantifiable things like money, the number of “likes” on social media, the number of people in the pews, the amount of thanks we get, how many students make good grades on standardized tests, the number of converts we tally.
I imagine Elizabeth Elliot wondered, when her husband Jim was killed as a missionary in Ecuador, “Was it worth it?” After all, Jim Elliot was by any reasonable human standard an abject failure. Just as Jesus was, in the weakness and abnegation of the crucifixion, an abject failure. But Jim Elliot was also, like Jesus, faithful to God’s calling.
Elizabeth Elliot later went to minister to the tribe which had martyred her husband. Their faithfulness resulted in their sitting at the feet of Jesus, today, with some of those who, on this earth, defied and killed Jim Elliot. For many of those who had murdered the messenger later received the message.
Was it worth it?
Is it worth it for you to persevere in faithful following of the Lord Jesus? Ask granddad. Ask mom. Ask the lady who cleaned house for mom and dad. Ask Jim and Elizabeth Elliot. Ask those who today sit together at the feet of Jesus.
“Therefore, my beloved…, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
Press on, friends.
Press on…
