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Feelings in Place? - Message #187 - July 16, 2006
When parents ask their children to do the chores, the children often refuse because they don't feel like doing the work. As adults, we sometimes take the same position. We cannot bring ourselves to begin a task because we really do not feel like it. We fall into a trap. We think good feelings must precede our work. We think a lack of good feelings is an excuse for avoiding work. But what is the result? As the work piles up, depression overtakes us.
Here is the problem. We have things backwards. Listen to what Jesus says. "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). The word "blessed" may be translated "happy." Jesus is talking about the very human emotion of happiness. The context of this human emotion is service. Jesus has just finished washing the disciples' feet. He explains that joy and happiness will come in doing similar tasks of service. Do you get the point? Good feelings are not required before our work. In actuality, they follow our good deeds.
So don't be fooled. If you are blue because of the work before you, get busy. Joy is found in doing your work, not in avoiding it. Avoiding work will only lead you into depression. "If you know these things, you are happy if you do them!"
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: freetapes@wordfortheweek.org; or visit: www.wordfortheweek.org
When parents ask their children to do the chores, the children often refuse because they don't feel like doing the work. As adults, we sometimes take the same position. We cannot bring ourselves to begin a task because we really do not feel like it. We fall into a trap. We think good feelings must precede our work. We think a lack of good feelings is an excuse for avoiding work. But what is the result? As the work piles up, depression overtakes us.
Here is the problem. We have things backwards. Listen to what Jesus says. "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). The word "blessed" may be translated "happy." Jesus is talking about the very human emotion of happiness. The context of this human emotion is service. Jesus has just finished washing the disciples' feet. He explains that joy and happiness will come in doing similar tasks of service. Do you get the point? Good feelings are not required before our work. In actuality, they follow our good deeds.
So don't be fooled. If you are blue because of the work before you, get busy. Joy is found in doing your work, not in avoiding it. Avoiding work will only lead you into depression. "If you know these things, you are happy if you do them!"
For a free audiotape on this subject, call 1-800-777-0389
email: freetapes@wordfortheweek.org; or visit: www.wordfortheweek.org
