There’s No Checklist

There’s an age old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  and its answer might help prevent bitterness.  The question is asked because we think bad things should NEVER happen to ‘good’ people.  We think bad things shouldn’t happen to… us!

And it’s all because of our checklist.

I doubt you actually have a pen and paper with you at all times marking all the good you’ve done. (At least I hope you don’t.)  You might not be ‘keeping score’ but, just ask any Little Leaguer, it doesn’t mean you don’t know who ‘won’.

What’s on this ‘checklist of goodness’?

• Go to church – check
• Be nice to people – check
• Didn’t kill anyone on my way to work (even though that jerk cut me off) - check
• Paid my taxes (even though I don’t agree with the bailouts, etc, etc, etc…) - check
• Voted (no comment) - check
• Filled out my timecard (even though I dont’ get paid what I’m worth) - check
• Read my Bible – check
• Pray – check
• Tithe (even gave extra at the holidays) - check

Yes, this list may seem simplistic and maybe you are one of those amazing people who has given money to the homeless, donated a kidney to a co-worker, spent time at soup kitchens, knit blankets for babies, etc, etc…  You are a fine example of humanity, but that does not protect you from the ‘bad’.

We keep this mental checklist of all we’ve done and think it somehow matters.  Well, shouldn’t it?  Bottomline… no.  It doesn’t.  Because God does not keep a checklist of the things we’ve done the same way we do.  We’re all on the same field.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. – Romans 3:21-24

We are saved by grace NOT by our works.  Yet we continue to think we earn ‘points’ by doing the basic requirements God has for us as Christians.

I had this conversation with a co-worker and it reminded me of our jobs.  You get paid because you are hired to do a specific job.  The job has requirements.

1. You need to show up for work every day you’re scheduled
2. You must do the work you’re hired to do
3. You are not to steal from the company
4. There’s probably some ‘Other duties as assigned’ language somewhere in there too

If you do those things, you’ll get a paycheck.  That’s how it works.  And we all have colleagues who do more or do less than we do.  Guess what?  They get a paycheck too!  And sometimes, they do their work with a terrible attitude!  Sometimes they are late, or barely do the minimum work.  (We keep mental checklists on these things too, don’t we?)

Here’s the kicker… you don’t get a bonus check for just doing the basic requirements.  Even if your attitude has been better than EVERYONE else for years!  Even if it’s public knowlege you’re the ‘go to guy’ to get a project done correctly the first time.  Even if you’ve worked late, come in early, and worked holidays.  Sometimes you’ll be recognized publically but, more often than not, you must be satisfied with knowing you’ve done your personal best.

Yet we expect God to look at our little personal checklist and be impressed with the things we think we’ve done all on our own.  Instead of understanding that His grace is the greatest ’bonus check’ of all, we think we deserve more.

We fool ourselves into thinking that doing ‘good’ protects us from bad things in life.  And we’re shocked when those bad things actually happen to us or our loved ones.  We are sinners in a sinful world.  Bad things are GOING to happen!  And I’ve decided to stop comparing myself to other sinners.  Because it’s easy to be ‘better than’ another sinner!  Do you compare yourself to those who are better than you?  Probably not nearly as often because it makes us feel like we don’t measure up.  Compared to other sinners in this world I could easily get myself bitter by putting my checklist up against theirs, and then seeing if they’ve been given more than me.  Why would God give her a husband and not me?  Why did he get a job/promotion/raise?

If instead I choose to compare myself to Christ… I’m humbled yet again and drop to my knees in thanksgiving that God, in His mercy, saved me.

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. – Galatians 6:8-10

Put aside the checklist.  Take off the coat of bitterness that is trying to wrap around you, and focus on God.  Let His checklist be yours.

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. – Revelation 2:2-3

Do not grow weary.  The work that we are doing for the Lord is known and we will be rewarded for it.  But we should not work FOR that reward, we work because it’s what we must do.   The reward is the bonus check.  Unexpected and exciting!

To whom will you compare yourself with this week?