Bread for the JourneySample

From the Heart

Doing things unwillingly is incredibly burdensome. When we act that way, the results are awful. There's more joy in having finished than in what was achieved during the process. I think we all have stories about the face we'd make when we were forced by our elders to do one thing or another. We would grumble to ourselves, and our faces would contort because of what we were compelled to do.

Doing, serving, or obeying with a frown is a sign of how far our heart is from carrying out any of those activities. We won't always have to do things out of obligation—that would be terribly painful. But there are duties and responsibilities in life that we'd like to get rid of, which continually take us by the hand and force us to do them, whether we like them or not.

How different the feeling is when we are compelled to do things because we want to do them. That's what we call putting our heart into it, delighting in the action. We move to action with joy and enthusiasm. When we feel that way, we can go the extra mile without complaints or odd looks.

King David gave his son Solomon a lot of wise advice. Among them, I want to mention the following: “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, you will find him; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9, NIV) What wise words! He was telling his son that everything he did for God should be motivated by love. Loving God leads us to obedience and voluntary service. We rejoice in being servants who do what we have been called to do.

The apostle Paul, using the same principle, gave advice to the Colossians; his words were: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23, NIV)

That is what makes the difference between doing things with a willing mind and doing them begrudgingly and out of obligation. Love is the force that lifts our soul above what is obligatory and takes us to that space where we delight in what we do, even if it requires effort. Therefore, I believe it's necessary that when we feel like we are dragging our feet in what we have been called to do, we remember the Father's love and the Son's sacrifice. May we feel His love that propels and draws us to do things from the heart.