It is difficult to live up to the demands and expectations people place on us. Those invisible, but heavy chains of unwieldy want from us often puts on us in postures of stress and failure. So why try to continually live up to those demands and expectations?
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. (1 Corinthians 9:19)
The Apostle Paul worked for a living and volunteered his services as a pastor. Although he was a prolific author, he was not a scribe or novelist by trade, so do not think that this guy sat back all week from the comforts of his seaside home writing letters and tales and coming into town on the weekend to preach at the synagogue. The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker, that is, he fixed and made tents for a living. Paul had taken upon himself the demands and expectations of a merchant selling his services to people so that he could speak to them about the saving grace of Jesus without placing demands and expectations on the very people he was trying to reach. In adopting such a strategy, he would have to work as hard as the next person, if not harder, to make a living, only to be afforded an opportunity to reach people. What does that mean for us? It means that we must live up to the demands and expectations of people, and then some, and use whatever clout that we have earned ourselves so that we could influence their lives. If you’re failing to meet the demands and expectations of the people you are trying to reach as an example of following Christ, then you have failed in the mission Christ gave to you: to make disciples of all nations. The way by which you live up to the demands and expectations people place on you show that you care and it is with that same integrity, excellence, and greatness that by the transitive property is rendered toward the God that you follow. The testimony of people whose expectations and demands have been met by you and through you will give the reality of Jesus a doorway into their lives and into the lives of others. That is why we live up to other people’s demands and expectations.
Comments are closed