Why Even Try?

"Make your bed," the mother said.

"Why?" the daughter said.

"Because it looks neater."

"Why does it have to look neater? No one's coming."

"Because it does. Do it."

The daughter let out an exasperated sigh, trudged to her bedroom, gave her sheets one tug, and left the bed "made". She had obeyed. She had done it. Kinda. But it was only just a bed, so why even try?

This is a trivial example, but we ask this question in much more important scenarios. Why do I have to pick up the slack for someone else when I've already done what I set out to do? Why do I have to help that person when I've already helped someone else today? Why do I have to try my hardest when I can get by without much work? Why do I have to live selflessly when it's easier to live for myself?

And for Christians: why do I have to give my short life my best try when I'm already going to heaven for eternity?

Sure, when it's convenient, we help and love others. We do what we can. But when it gets hard, we do the minimum and control the damage and stop. That's enough. Too much giving. I haven't reached my limit, but pouring out myself isn't fun. Plus, trying hard at most things only bring earthly gain, so why does it matter for Christians?  We try at the important things. The morals. The values. The evangelism. That's what we try at. Why bring that into earthly things like normal jobs and chores and things that don't really affect someone's salvation? What difference will it make?

But, oh, will it make a difference. These morals, values, integrity, and your effort cannot be separate from how you do your job. They cannot be separate from earthly things. Right now, you are on earth. You are on earth for a purpose. You are on earth to serve God. Not just in the obvious religious ways, but in everything, trivial or important. Jesus isn't just one part of your life. He's everything. You should treat Him like He is everything, so that "whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him... Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Colossians 3:17, 23-24).

And that's why we try. We are serving Jesus Christ, our Savior, in all that we do, so do it well. Put Jesus first, before all else. Before all earthly worries. Be grateful that you have Him to put first. Try hard. Try hard for Jesus in the name of Jesus. Whether you have to make your bed or meet a deadline, being a Christians means being a follower of Christ, so in everything you do, do it for Him in His name. And your reward is with Him in Heaven for eternity.

You can't really ask for a better reason to try.

Who Are You?

I love things that are me. Okay, okay, I know what you're thinking. Who is this egocentric little child? Don't get me wrong. I'm not obsessed with myself; I just enjoy my idiosyncratic traits. Well, the good ones. Don't we all? There's nothing more we like than seeing ourselves in a positive way.  It's an ego booster, or, in slightly different terms, an awesome booster. We just love to be awesome.

But we aren't always that awesome. And that hurts. It eats us, gnawing at out flesh until we don't even know who we are anymore. Sorry if it's a bit gory, but you get the point. It gruesomely rips everything that resonates with us off of us. That's the problem with being too into ourselves. It's definitely not the only problem, but it's one of them. Who we are and what we're like--I mean, our personality's idiosyncratic traits--are neither always positive nor always constant. I really don't appreciate this about me even though it's a given in every human's life. My personality changes for better or for worse, and even when it stays the same, I can't count on everything in my life reflecting this. It's frustrating. Utterly frustrating. Especially for people like me who are intrigued by self-expression.

How do I deal with this? Honestly, it really eats me up sometimes. Maybe it isn't this way for everyone, but it is for me. So, back to the question. How?

Maybe start by not looking at something that eats you up, but at something that fills you up.  If focusing on your own self eats you up, try focusing on someone else. But what if that someone else has just as many faults as you do and it eats you up all the same? Well, do I have something to tell you.

The person you choose will have no faults--if He's Jesus.

Jesus is perfect. Has anyone ever told you to look on the bright side when you're feeling down? Jesus is the bright side. He is the only completely bright side--the only bright side that will last an eternity. He is the light of the world. With Jesus, suddenly, it doesn't matter how inconstant and imperfect you are, because He is constant and perfect. Because He paid the price. Because His perfect blood was shed on the cross. Because you are no longer defined by your own personality. Because you are no longer defined and valued by something subject to change every two seconds. Because you are now defined by something that can never change.

You are defined by the love of God.

The perfect love of God. The love that was so perfect that He sent His one and only begotten son to die for you on a cross to pay for your sins. And you are His. Forever. For eternity. If you believe in Jesus. Do you?

Who am I?

I am God's.

Who are you?

You are ___.