Let Go, and Let God
A recent post that I was reading – Blacksheep Blog - got me to thinking about something. Mr. Blacksheep did a great job of sharing his confusion about holding the ball versus fumbling (which if you know anything about football, you know this is not a good thing) and letting God pick up the ball and do His work of getting the touchdown. This is where my problem comes in. A simple, yet profound saying that was popular a number of years ago – Let Go, and Let God – causes me to wonder if I should step out of the way, put down the ball, or something else, and let God do His thing. Or on the other hand, the parable of the talents that Jesus uses in Matthew 25:14-30 would indicate that we are to do our work and God will do His. While I would agree with Mr. Blacksheep when it comes to the things that we cannot do, I would also say that we are to use the talents (pun intended) that God has given us!
So what is the answer? Let Go, and let God or God helps those who help themselves? Let me know what you think.
And congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Blacksheep on the new chapter in their life. (See their website if you would like to know more.)
Hey Dan… great post. As a fellow thinker I feel your pain, and have no concrete theological answer for where that line lays. The question could perhaps be summed up as “What role do we humans have in carrying forth God’s plans?”
Well, in my own case, I wouldn’t have gotten the job in Nashville without actually doing the work of making the calls, mailing the resumes, following up, driving south,and all the other 200 things I did. And in our logic if I did those things, God didn’t.
I think where that line is, the line between what we are to do and what God wants to do, is right here: We are responsible to do the work towards the result; God is responsible for the result. In my case, as long as I was trying towards a specific result, it wasn’t gonna happen. Once I gave up on the result (not the work), the result came.
This applies in nearly every situation I can imagine. We are to raise your children to know and love the Lord. Yet, whether or not our kids truly believe is only up to the Lord. We do the work, God handles results. In your upcoming missionary service, you are teach, God is responsible for how your teaching ultimately is used. We are to live and share the Gospel, yet we are not responsible for those lost souls who do not respond to God. We are to do the work towards God’s goal, He is responsible for His results.
Whaddaya think?
Mr. BlackSheep – I think that you hit the nail on the head, or if you are into golf, you scored a hole in one! While I think that it is behind what you said in your comment, I simply want to add that the work that we are called to do can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit living with in us. If we try to accomplish anything under our own power, it will simply be as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Therefore, through the acceptance of Christ into our hearts, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the power of God, we are to do the work that God has called us to do, and since the results are up to Him, He will get all of the glory for whatever happens.
And congratulations on your move to Nashville. When can we come for a visit?
You can visit anytime. But you might want to wait until we actually get down there! Keep watching the BlackSheep Blog for updates!