Just Enough to Get By
It has been my observation that many in this world have fallen into the trap of doing just enough to get by. This usually happens when we try to squeeze too much in because of various demands on our time. Our lives are filled with obligations and sometime we find it hard to put all our effort into each aspect. As a result, we tend to develop the bad habit of doing just enough to get by in all the areas of life.
Some people begin this practice when in school. They find that minimal effort still allows them to get by since a "C" is still a passing grade. This practice may continue when these people grow up and become involved in business. They find they can be an average employee and still take home enough in a paycheck to get by. These often gripe and complain about those who advance and wonder how they do it, but it rarely bothers them to the degree they do something about it other than gripe and complain. After all, they still get their check at the end of the week. Others find that just a little effort will work in their marriage relationship. These tend to take the other person within this relationship with them for granted while they continue to do just enough to get by.
What I am curious about is where this type of outlook is taught or promoted within the Bible?
I am certain that exactly the opposite is taught within the Sacred Writ. We see in Ecclesiastes 9:10 how to approach any and all things with which we may occupy ourselves in this life. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."
The same idea is also conveyed by Christ in Mark 12:30 after one man recognized that Christ had answered him regarding what the first commandment of all was. Christ's response was: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."
This previously had also been brought to the attention of Israel in Haggai 1:5-7 when the people of Israel had involved themselves in just enough to get by in the building of their own houses while allowing the house of God to lie in waste. "Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways."
Many of God's people today are disappointing God in that they are trying to cheat the system by doing the least possible and expecting the best possible results. Don't kid yourself into taking the Lord for granted or the commitment you made to God when you became His child. There is coming a day in which the Lord will separate folks into two groups. One group will be those that put fort all their effort into serving God and doing His Will. These will be granted eternal rest and everlasting peace with God. However, the second group, those who made feeble attempts at service or tried to do just enough to get by will hear the words spoken by our Lord in Matthew 25:41: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
Are you willing to take a chance on your eternal destiny by doing what you consider to be just enough to get by, or are you going to put yourself fully into your service to God and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling as the Philippian brethren were admonished to do in Philippians 2:12? It is entirely your choice. Choose wisely.
--- Dennis Strickland
