Easy Button

Then I looked things over and told the leaders, the officials, and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of your enemies! The Lord is great and fearsome. So think of him and fight for your relatives and children, your wives and homes!"

-- Nehemiah 4:14

If you’ve worked in a corporate environment or held a job in just about any organization, you surely know the drill.

That high-profile project from your company’s vice president has taken you days, weeks or maybe even months to complete. Thousands of dollars are on the line and you’ve lost track of your overtime hours. You’ve done a great job holding it all together — and you can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. But then … CHAOS!

Out of nowhere comes a last-minute “concern” from a co-worker or supervisor,

or a “new vision” from a client. Your tight schedule is now in total disarray, and there’s no way that you can meet your deadline. Can’t anything in business (or life in general) ever be easy?

Maybe you need one of those Easy Buttons that they sell at Staples. Just put it on your desk and hit it anytime your workday starts going crazy. And like magic, all your problems disappear.

But reality doesn’t work that way. And as Christ-followers, we’re particularly susceptible to the obstacles and detours of life when we say yes to God and work to do his will in the world. Note first that these pitfalls can take several disheartening forms. It might be criticism or ridicule of your efforts from an enemy, co-worker or even a family member. And in extreme cases, the situation could even turn malicious, violent or fatal.

The saying “no good deed goes unpunished” applies here. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised when we take heat for trying to help others see the light. In fact, we should beware if our faith-journeys are too smooth and trouble-free. It could mean that the devil doesn’t consider us a threat to his plans. And it’s then that we can become our own worst enemy.

“How terrible when everyone says only good things about you,” warns Jesus, “because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets.”

What should we do when doing God’s will gets a bit too rough? The first thing is to know your opposition and acknowledge its existence. Running away, ignoring the situation or pretending it doesn’t exist won’t make it disappear. Then pray for God’s help and guidance — and pray for your enemy. Finally, don’t be afraid to stand up for what you’re doing. If it’s something that comes from God, saying yes to him and fighting for what’s right is worth the trouble and effort.

That’s a tall order. But remember, we’re not in the fight alone, and God has the last word. Moreover, since Jesus has already paid the price on the cross for the world’s sins, the fight is already won. Victory is ours when we say yes to our Savior.