Devotion: More is Less

Please read the scripture from the weekend: Galatians 6:2-11

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The Apostle Paul tells us something puzzling in Philippians 2:12b: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” He continues with, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Work out our salvation? Wait. What?! We know that our works have not brought us salvation – rather salvation is ours by God’s grace, a free gift to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Exactly, Paul would say: It is because of God’s grace that we should respond and want to respond by putting effort into becoming the Christ-like people God wants us to be. Paul reminds us that God is working within us to fulfill his good purpose. We need God’s help to do this, but if we’re unwilling, it won’t happen. 

I remembered this verse while Pastor Michelle was preaching this past Sunday from another of Paul’s letters, Galatians, as part of Sheridan’s sermon series called “Re-Wired.” This series is looking at the impacts of pervasive technology on our lives, and how it’s crowding out many of the good things God wants for us, and things he wants us to do.

Galatians 6:1-10 urges us to carry each other’s burdens and to not become weary in doing good. As we have opportunity, Paul says, let’s do good to all people, especially to the family of believers.

Pastor Michelle spoke about the opportunity cost of spending so much time focused on our phones or other technology. As Christians, we need to ask ourselves, “What opportunities to do good – or to experience good — am I sacrificing by engaging too much with my phone?” 

Every day opportunities to do good come to us: We can open a door for someone, help load their groceries, make someone feel seen through a friendly greeting. But we are also to work at making good happen. This takes planning – and time.

How do we find the time – or rather, make the time? We can start by praying that God will help us make changes that serve his good purposes. Or maybe we need to start with “Help me to want to do this.”

We can ask ourselves why we look at our screens so much. And we can place limits on ourselves. One of my rules is that I only play Words with Friends or otherwise use my iPad during the day for as long as it takes to drink a cup of coffee. And, yes, I do occasionally delay those last few sips to see if my WWF partner has fallen for my trap.

Phones and other tech are good tools but when we overuse them, we miss out on so much. God would much rather we engage in an activity where we are present with each other and focused on each other than see us defaulting to our phones. God would like us to do the work of planning so these good things happen.

Gracious God, create in me a deeper desire to experience your love and your world firsthand. Remind me each morning to make a plan to do good that day. Thank you. Amen.

Written by Cheryl Stubbendieck

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