Lent Day 22–Do-Gooder

I recently had a bad week as a do-gooder.  I was driving to yet another event to “do-good” and at the stoplight I began to have an attitude problem (more like an attitude meltdown).  I wanted to throw in the towel.  It was Friday and I’d spent the entire week accomplishing things on everyone’s to-do list but my own. 

 That night my husband said I sounded like the commercial: 

Think of someone you love.  Now push them aside and think about yourself! 

We laughed because he was right.  (It happens from time to time).  There are days that I feel sick and tired of desiring to be the good wife, good mom, good daughter, good friend, good servant of Jesus Christ and all I want to do is serve myself…as kind of a vacation. 

Serving others as a lifestyle is really hard work.  Although, maybe it’s just hard for the “bad attitude me.”  When I read Titus 3:8, I’m always struck by what it says at the end: 

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Profitable for everyone?  What about me—what I enjoy?  What about my to-do list?  Maybe Paul ran out of room for “everyone…but Barb.”  As I begin to resurrect my inner Eeyore, “Bound to happen,” I pause to think Paul might be on to something.

Maybe my to-do list wasn’t the best measure of what is profitable for me. 

Let’s consider these measures:  

1. Storing up treasures in heaven because they’ll last  (Matthew 6:20)
2. The work of God is believing and following by serving (John 6:29, 14:12, Matthew 20:26-28)
3. Bearing fruit and bringing glory to God by showing I’m a disciple (John 15:8)
4. Serving the Lord and not really people (Colossians 3:23-24)

When you think about productivity in that perspective, Paul’s conclusion (v 14) makes better sense, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.”

It’s good to pause and ask myself: What is my definition of productivity?  What’s on God’s to-do list for me today?