Effort Is Not the Christian's Enemy

There is a view of God’s grace that essentially says, ‘effort is the enemy’. Such a view usually arises from a desire to oppose the errors of legalism which teach that man must earn or maintain—at least in some measure—his or her standing before God by their own performance. Of course, it is right to oppose such a view and to do so strongly. We have only to read the words of the apostle Paul to hear the cutting voice of the Holy Spirit against those who would distort the message of the gospel: “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed,” (Gal. 1:9). Clearly, promoting works-righteousness is a great offense in the sight of God.

However, two things need to be observed, lest we allow our fervent opposition to one error to propel us off the cliff-edge of another. First, in the verse quoted above, we know from the context that Paul is opposing the specific gospel-distortion of justification by works (or legalism). However, notice that his wording includes all misrepresentations of the true gospel. He does not say, “If anyone is preaching legalism…let him be accursed.” He says, “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received…” This means that any misrepresentations of the gospel are a grievous and accursed thing in the sight of God.

Second, this also means that inasmuch as teaching people to look for God’s approval based on their own performance is sinful (not to mention devoid of any hope of salvation), it is equally heinous and sinful to teach people to presume upon God’s grace and essentially treat the gospel as divine permission to be lazy. It is certainly true that Christians are waiting for the future glory of heaven with hope and expectation. But we are not meant to be dozing around in heaven’s waiting room, as it were. We are not to be found with our hands folded, shuffling about in our night gown, glibly sipping a soothing cup of chamomile as we wait for the kingdom to come. Don’t believe me? Consider the following verses: Luke 21:34-36; Acts 20:29-31; I Corinthians 16:13; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 3:12-15; I Thessalonians 5:4-6; Titus 3:1; Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14; II Peter 1:5.

If you didn’t already, I encourage you to actually stop and read over the verses just referenced. Even in this small sample it is undeniably clear that God calls his children—who are saved by grace alone—to be fervently and strenuously devoted to seek after God with the full investment of our heart (Jer. 29:13), to enthusiastically strive after holiness (Heb. 12:14), and to serve the Lord as living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1), even when such service requires great personal cost, (I Pet. 4:16-19). In the words of II Corinthians 5:14-15:

“For the love of Christ compels us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

Believing that any portion of our personal effort earns God’s approval/blessing is absolutely contrary to grace and should be emphatically opposed, (Gal. 2:16). True Christian salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, (Eph. 2:8-9). May God grant that we should never be moved from this one and only sure foundation, (Acts 4:12)!

But teaching and believing in a ‘grace’ that produces very meager, halfhearted, and embarassingly unresilient effort is also contrary to the true grace of God, (Phil. 2:12-13). How unworthy and unglorious must the Christian God be to yield such a bountiful harvest of stagnancy and indifference in the hearts, minds, and lives of those who say they believe in him! Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, this should not be so!

Should we who have been graciously saved from God’s wrath by the infinitely precious blood of Jesus Christ say back unto God that he asks too much of us by calling us to be fervent and unwavering in seeking his face, (I Pet. 1:15-19)? Should we be easily defeated and give up because the gate is narrow and the road is hard, (Matt. 7:13-14)? Should our hearts be like the soil that yielded no everlasting fruit because the thorns and thistles of this world choked it out, (Matt. 13:22)?

What is more astounding still is that everything God requires of us—absolutely everything!—that he calls us to pursue, to persevere in, and to be zealous for, are things which are themselves for our own blessing (John 15:11)! God’s pervasive and unapologetic command for the Christian’s effort is for the Christian’s own blessing! God’s command to seek his face is not an arduous list of tedious things to be done to appease an arbitrary and fickle god, they are invitations to freely receive the fullness of life, (Jn. 10:10); to take our share of the spiritual riches and blessings which belong to us in Christ, (Isa. 55:1-2)! They are commands to be blessed by God by receiving the bounty of his hand, (Acts 17:24-25).

Effort is not the enemy, but slothfulness is.

“Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord,” (Rom. 12:11).

Effort is not the enemy, but lukewarmth is.

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth,” (Rev. 3:16).

Effort is not the enemy, but sluggishness is.

“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises,” (Heb. 6:11-12).

May the Holy Spirit so work in our hearts that we learn to say with God’s people the world over:

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” (Gal. 2:20).

In humility before God, may we draw near to him praying:

O Lord, let our hearts be wholly true to you, our God and our Father! Teach us more and more to walk in your holy statutes and to keep your righteous commandments. May the love of Christ compel us to seek you with all our heart each new day, and bless us with the spiritual hunger that testifies to our being true children of God. Amen. (Adapted into a prayer from I Kings 8:61).

No one who has spent there all trusting, pursuing, enjoying, and serving the Lord Jesus Christ ever requested a refund, (Rev. 4:10-11). He is worthy of all that we could ever offer and more, (Rev. 5:13-14)! True life, true rest, true joy, and true peace belong to those who hunger and thirst after God.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied,” (Matt. 5:6).