Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
Some people strive to be the best or at least “better than everyone else.” This philosophy coerces us into comparing ourselves with others, which is not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12) Those better than everyone can be self-righteous. Those who aren’t can be frustrated, envious, jealous, discontent or have a “what’s the use” attitude.
A story is told of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He asked the oak standing near the gate what the trouble was. The oak said it was sick of life and determined to die because it was not tall and beautiful like the pine. The pine was all troubled because it could not bear grapes, like the grapevine. The grapevine was going to throw its life away because it could not stand erect and produce fruit as big as the peach tree. The geranium was fretting because it was not tall and fragrant like the lilac. And so it was throughout the garden. Yet coming to a violet he found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. “Well, little violet, I’m glad, amidst all this discouragement, to find one brave little flower. You do not seem to be the least disheartened.”
“No, I am not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one. Since I knew you wanted a violet I am determined to be the best little violet I can be.” (Modified from Streams in the Desert, by L.B. Cowan)
I’m sure we can see the parallel. God is our king. He created and planted us. Are we determined to be the best we can be for Him? Or do we lament and pout because we can’t do what others can do?
We are not all created equal. We have different strengths, weaknesses, and abilities. (Romans 12:6) But it’s what we do with what we’ve been given that counts. This is evident in the parable of the talents when a rich man entrusts his money to his servants. He gives one servant five talents, one servant two, and another only one. Each was expected to increase. The first two servants increased 100 percent. They were rewarded for their efforts. In fact, they were given the same reward. The servant who received the most talents to work with wasn’t rewarded more than the other. It was the percentage that counted – what each had done with what they had been given. The one who was only given one talent produced nothing. He was chastised and his money, what little he had, was taken away. (Matthew 25:14-30)
Jesus tells us the widow who gave her meager offering was better than all the rich who gave theirs. (Mark 12:41-44) It’s what we do with what God has given us that counts. It’s all a part of being the best we can be; doing the best we can do with what we have.
That’s why the jobs we have are not as important as how we do them. All of us should do our jobs the best we can, as if we are doing them for God. (Colossians 3:23) It doesn’t matter if we are CEOs, bag boys, plumbers, maids, doctors, ditch diggers, administrative assistants, accountants, waiters, students, cooks, bus drivers, dishwashers, day care workers, clerks, and so on – we should all do the best we can do. David wasn’t always a king. At one time he was a shepherd boy who took his job seriously enough to protect the sheep. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
Helen Keller was both blind and deaf from infancy, but eventually went on to graduate from college to become a world famous writer and activist. She said, “I am only one—but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do. What I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do.”
Consider this… All of us are but one. We can’t do everything but we can do something. What we can do, we should do. That’s what being the best we can be is all about. And with God’s grace and help we can do even more. As the saying goes, “Do your best and God will do the rest!”
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
- Do the best you can do.
- Apply Seventh Century monk, St. Isaac the Syrian’s, advice to your life: “If you cannot labor with your body, at least make efforts with your mind… If you can’t fast for two days, fast at least till evening… If you are not a peacemaker, at least do not be addicted to strife… If you cannot close the mouth of a man who is judging his brother, at least refrain from joining him…” Do what you can.
- Don’t let fear of failure keep you from doing something. The servant with only one talent thought if he did nothing he would not make a mistake. However, he found out doing nothing was the biggest mistake of all.
- Don’t compare yourselves to others.
- Read this little poem often to keep you on the right track…
Others may do a greater work,
But you have your part to do;
And no one in all God’s family
Can do it as well as you.
