the god of achievement

Larry the Cable Guy is known for git-r-done.  We want to achieve.  It is built into our culture and begins to be expected of us.  Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, AWANA, Fundraising, Athletics, Getting our name on plaques, trophies, and walls to cement our achievement into history.  It can be as simple as a daily checklist, a clean house, or a mowed lawn.

“But  when our live are all about getting things done, we can find that there is not much room for God.  Instead, our approach to worshiping God can be checking off a box on our to-do list labeled “go to church.” - Kyle Idleman 

Jesus is greater than the god of achievement.  Jesus was a pretty big deal during His three years of ministry.  He had large crowds following Him wherever He went.  It only took three years for Him to turn the world upside down.  In that time He was able get gather a following and have people plotting His murder.  Some loved Him, some hated Him, most wanted to be around Him because of what He could do.

He didn’t let the achievements dictate His life.  He regularly would sneak away to spend time praying, He made time for children (Matt. 19:14).  With about six months until His crucifixion there is a lot to do and time is running short yet He makes a stop at the home of some friends.  Luke 10:40-42 gives this account.

Too often achievements distract us from what is really important.  We begin to see the check list as something that must get done by the end of each day or week if we want to feel as if we did anything that really mattered.  Perhaps this is why we get stretched so thin by being so busy with all life can “offer” us.  Just think of the last time you didn’t accomplish something on your list - how did you feel? 

Achievements are measurable.  We can see what we can accomplish.  Mowing the grass, painting the house, an award, a medal, a clean kitchen, a promotion, recognition.  We feel like we did something that matters when we are able to check something off the list.  Often times we are able to prioritize our to-do lists.  What is most pressing?  What can be put on the back burner?  What will give me the greatest results?  What can be done quickly and easily?  

It boils down to one word: choice.

Moses, Joshua, Elijah all told the people to make a choice.  

To many times competition is linked to achievements.  With Mary and Martha we see:

1. Frustration with people who just don’t get stuff done.  This boils down to productivity.  Are you critical of those who don’t get enough done or aren’t doing it well enough?

2. Are you discontent with yourself for not getting done what you had hoped?  Do you compare yourself to others who seem to get more done or have more awards?

Scripture tells us to “be still and know that I am God” - Psalm 46:10.  There is also a sense of Sabbath or rest.  Man was not made to “go go go” and never rest.  We need rest because we aren’t God.  

Back to Mary and Martha.  In this story, Martha is doing, accomplishing, and achieving.  She is trying to make everything perfect because Jesus is there.  She has become distracted with all of this and frustrated with her sister, Mary.  When bringing this up to Jesus, He simply tells her that Mary, who has chosen to sit and listen to Jesus has chosen better.

Are there times we get so wrapped up in our achievements that we miss what is really important?  This isn’t an excuse to be lazy, but a call to readjust our priorities and what really matters in the long run.  

Look at what Paul says about himself in Philippians 3:4-11.  He had it all.  He was the top dog when it comes to religion.  He was famous - people knew him, respected him, and feared him.  There was nothing that Paul had not accomplished, but one day that all changed.  It was the day he met Jesus.  

That day changed his life forever.  Paul would say that all the stuff he had, all the things he accomplished was NOTHING compared to knowing Christ.  Paul also says that he suffered the loss of those achievements and that was probably difficult.  It probably hurt.

But it was nothing compared to knowing Christ.  
The god of achievement becomes so dangerous because we start to find our identity in our achievements.  We begin to believe that if we are not achieving the next step we are nobody.  We forget who we really are.  

Sometimes removing this idol means losing everything we have worked for.  Idols have to burned down, and that can be incredibly painful.  We may feel as if we have lost everything, but really we have gained the only thing worth having.  

Paul writes “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” - 2 Corinthians 4:18

Because Jesus succeeded, you are free to fail.
Because He won, you are free to lose.

It is time to stop to reflect, to think about who you are now and who you want to be when all the temporary is gone.