Why Be Good When Your Best Isn't Good Enough?

We are here for an education – aren’t we? Or are we here for something more? Is it all about a GPA or is it about a process of continual spiritual growth? So I guess the question is why are you here?

Time and time again this year I’ve butted heads with those who are upset when I say I don’t care about my grade point average. What matters to me is that I learn something new from each of my classes – something I have found I do not do very well when I am worried about how well I did in the class (if you can do both great – I can’t). Call me crazy but for me it has always been – “Don’t let your studies get in the way of your college education!” I’m not slamming effort; Jesus was ruthless with those who treated their call frivolously. I am just saying that we need to get to a point of kingdom focus over self focus.

Recently in chapel, Esther 4:16 was quoted as a key verse. “Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maidens also will fast in the same way. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.” I find it parallels my favourite verse Daniel 3:16-18 as in both cases people did their all but were willing to perish if it was God’s will. Esther was willing to stand up for her people NOW as it required her to, and Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego worked hard, yet when push came to shove they recognized who they truly worked for. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be know to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

I think we are called to service now. What does that mean? It means not taking lies when we are told to repeat them; it means recognizing who is responsible for our lives and education; it means that much of what we need to learn is not always on the test. Go out and work hard, yet be ready to do work not asked of you. Jesus spoke in the same manner of this subject only he spoke in terms of talents (Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19:11-27). Each of us has been given talents and responsibility in response to where we are at and it is only by being obedient that we can move forth and learn more.