From the PASTOR
The Multi-Tasker
Guilt or grace driven?
I’ve heard it said that women are great at multi-tasking – who am I to disagree?
Men are capable too. When I was 16 years old, a very long time ago and many years before the word “multi-tasking” become hip, I worked at the Bridgeway Hotel; washing glasses, not pulling beers, and I loved watching the manager work behind the bar. One night I saw him “multi-task” like no one before – you have to picture this: in one foul swoop he poured a beer for one customer, and with another hand was ringing up the till and giving change to another. When the beer had finished pouring he flicked off the tap, set up two more beers and began pouring. While the tap was on, he then reached out with an outstretched arm and began pouring a whiskey from the whiskey dispenser. There was only one or two shots of whiskey left in the dispenser, so as the beer finished pouring, he flicked off the beer taps, grabbed a full bottle of whiskey in one hand, pulled out the empty bottle from the dispenser in the other hand, flicked it in the air, and as the bottle spun around, he guided it down to the bin next to it – then he whacked in the new bottle of whiskey in the empty slot! It was the kind of thing movies are made of, fun to watch, like an octopus with arms going everywhere.
A long intro to my devotion.
However, are you a multi-tasker? I suspect that we have all been there at one time or another, haven’t we? Are your eyes barely open in the morning before your feet hit the floor running? Is it a case of “Good morning God!”, or more like, “Good God! Is it morning?”. Do the hours fly by because you have so much to do? But do you ever pause to think about why you’re doing all those things? You get ready for work, or go to school, do your work around the house, spend time in the evening catching up on homework, or someone else’s work if you are a teacher. You spend a minimum of eight hours at work, another hour or two for the commute home, and then there are emails to answer, tea to get organised, or get organised for someone else to cook tea; either way. You make beds, do the laundry, prepare meals, drop the kids off at school, fit in some time for fitness and exercise, stay in touch with family, friends, and so on.
Why?
Does “why” even enter the equation, as long as things get done? But “why” does matter. Motives are important. Scripture points out in various places where people look at the outward appearances, “but the LORD looks at the heart”. Do you find yourself doing things because "otherwise, I'll feel guilty"?
Guilt is a powerful motivator. We don't want to disappoint others, ourselves included. We don't want to get in trouble. We don't want to make God angry. But guilt wears a person down, it saps all the joy out of life. How can you be content and happy with guilt on your heart? I know I can’t be, and I’d say it would be the same for you.
The good news is: we don't have to live with guilt. There is a better way. We don't even have to get rid of it ourselves. We couldn't, regardless of how hard we tried. It was because of our guilt that Jesus came into the world. The Father has such an intense love for all of us that He was willing to send His Son and to punish Him for our guilt. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Guilt is gone, and in its place the Holy Spirit fills us with the peace and joy of faith. And that is the best motivator of all for all the things you do! Be a multi-tasker as you wish, a little or a lot, but let's live each day by grace, not guilt.
Guilt or grace driven?
I’ve heard it said that women are great at multi-tasking – who am I to disagree?
Men are capable too. When I was 16 years old, a very long time ago and many years before the word “multi-tasking” become hip, I worked at the Bridgeway Hotel; washing glasses, not pulling beers, and I loved watching the manager work behind the bar. One night I saw him “multi-task” like no one before – you have to picture this: in one foul swoop he poured a beer for one customer, and with another hand was ringing up the till and giving change to another. When the beer had finished pouring he flicked off the tap, set up two more beers and began pouring. While the tap was on, he then reached out with an outstretched arm and began pouring a whiskey from the whiskey dispenser. There was only one or two shots of whiskey left in the dispenser, so as the beer finished pouring, he flicked off the beer taps, grabbed a full bottle of whiskey in one hand, pulled out the empty bottle from the dispenser in the other hand, flicked it in the air, and as the bottle spun around, he guided it down to the bin next to it – then he whacked in the new bottle of whiskey in the empty slot! It was the kind of thing movies are made of, fun to watch, like an octopus with arms going everywhere.
A long intro to my devotion.
However, are you a multi-tasker? I suspect that we have all been there at one time or another, haven’t we? Are your eyes barely open in the morning before your feet hit the floor running? Is it a case of “Good morning God!”, or more like, “Good God! Is it morning?”. Do the hours fly by because you have so much to do? But do you ever pause to think about why you’re doing all those things? You get ready for work, or go to school, do your work around the house, spend time in the evening catching up on homework, or someone else’s work if you are a teacher. You spend a minimum of eight hours at work, another hour or two for the commute home, and then there are emails to answer, tea to get organised, or get organised for someone else to cook tea; either way. You make beds, do the laundry, prepare meals, drop the kids off at school, fit in some time for fitness and exercise, stay in touch with family, friends, and so on.
Why?
Does “why” even enter the equation, as long as things get done? But “why” does matter. Motives are important. Scripture points out in various places where people look at the outward appearances, “but the LORD looks at the heart”. Do you find yourself doing things because "otherwise, I'll feel guilty"?
Guilt is a powerful motivator. We don't want to disappoint others, ourselves included. We don't want to get in trouble. We don't want to make God angry. But guilt wears a person down, it saps all the joy out of life. How can you be content and happy with guilt on your heart? I know I can’t be, and I’d say it would be the same for you.
The good news is: we don't have to live with guilt. There is a better way. We don't even have to get rid of it ourselves. We couldn't, regardless of how hard we tried. It was because of our guilt that Jesus came into the world. The Father has such an intense love for all of us that He was willing to send His Son and to punish Him for our guilt. "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Guilt is gone, and in its place the Holy Spirit fills us with the peace and joy of faith. And that is the best motivator of all for all the things you do! Be a multi-tasker as you wish, a little or a lot, but let's live each day by grace, not guilt.