God Won't Do Your Job for You

Friday, 16 June 2023

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A recurring theme in many of my conversations with people is that they implicitly (or explicitly) believe that God Himself, apart from any human involvement, is supposed to do things that He has commanded us to do. In many cases, there is terrible confusion about the relationship between God's sovereignty and human responsibility that arises from a failure to understand the role of secondary causes (or "means") in the working out of God's sovereign purposes. In most cases, blaming God for not doing our job is a defense mechanism that arises from pride, laziness, and a general desire to avoid responsibility. Yet, the fact remains: God will not do for us what He has delegated to us. This applies to every aspect/vocation of life, but I'll focus on vocations within the home.

Fathers: God will not love your wife for you. God will not make love to your wife for you or be present with her to encourage her and lead her into greater faithfulness. God will not read Scripture with her or pray with her or worship with her in your place. God will not train your children to obey and honor her for you. God will not help her care for the children in the middle of the night for you. God will not work diligently in your place to provide for her physical needs. God will not read to your kids or chase them around the house or play with them in the yard or teach them how to confess and repent when they sin. God will not disciple your children for you. That unique role has been delegated by to God to you alone, and your participation (or lack thereof) will leave an indelible mark for generations to come.

Mothers: God will not honor or respect your husband for you. God will not make love to your husband for you or support him in his mission. God will not joyfully and patiently follow your husband's spiritual leadership for you. God will not set an example for your children of how to submit to a fallible man as unto the Lord. God will not bear and nurture and train your children for you. God will not snuggle with them, comfort them, dance with them, or cook their favorite meal. God will not set an example for your children of cheerful diligence in the repetitive and mundane tasks of managing your household. That unique role has been delegated by to God to you alone, and your participation (or lack thereof) will leave an indelible mark for generations to come.

Implicit in every one of God's commands is a promise that God will provide what is needed to carry out what He's commanded. As Augustine put it, God always supplies what He requires. God calls us to work out what He is working in us (Phil. 2:12-13), and there is no substitute for our obedience. Human disobedience against the revealed will of God cannot thwart God's purposes, but no one—including God Himself—can obey God for us. You must not "let go and let God" do what His word requires of you. If God did our work for us, then our existence would be rather pointless and we would not become glorious like Him—which, after all, is the entire point (Heb. 2:10). Fully embrace your God-given role, and rely completely on God to empower and bless your obedience (Heb. 11:6).

God Won't Do Your Job for You

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Jimmy Gill

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