Last night as a family we watched a film we hadn't seen for over a decade: How To Train Your Dragon. Hiccup is a young lad who aspires to be a dragon slayer but doesn't seem to fit in with the other Vikings of the village. This is especially true concerning his brave and brutish father. Hiccup was more apt to try to befriend dragons rather than kill them. He is a constant source of embarrassment to his father, who at one point says to him: "You're not my son."
About 15 minutes later in the film, however, Stoic the Vast's opinion of Hiccup changed due to his brave exploits: "I'm proud to call you my son," his father beamed. "It seems they share a performance-based relationship," I said aloud. The son was always working to earn the approval of his father, and the father exuded bitterness at perceived failures yet pride for apparent success. Stoic viewed Hiccup in light of his failure or success, whether he was able to meet or exceed expectations he had for his son. Sadly, I don't think the dynamics of their relationship are unique. Performance-based relationships are more common than we might think.
One thing for which I am grateful is God's gracious acceptance of flawed people because He loves them--not because they have measured up to His immaculate standard. In my personal experience with corporations and workplaces it was always very much, "What have you done for me lately?" rather than trust and mutual respect. Any favour was a thinly veiled "You Owe Me" rather than "Well done." Isn't it amazing that we owe God for everything, yet He never once says "You owe me?" The wise realise we owe Him our lives, all we possess, and can only credit Him for the amazing future He has in store for us. Just because we can't measure up doesn't mean working to please Him isn't worth it. We are called to wisely respond to the everlasting love He has extended to us, humbled to be His chosen, adopted child.
With God we are not in a performance-based relationship, yet at the same time faithful servants will be rewarded accordingly. He entrusts more to those who are faithful in the little things. Instead of despising the days of small things, we are to be faithful unto the LORD who has provided all things by grace. Every day is a good day to praise and honour God, the One who has accepted us and is pleased to call us His own even when we fail and fall. What peace, rest, and comfort is ours by the mercy and grace of God. God is not proud of us but pleased with us, for ours is a relationship based on love, not performance.
About 15 minutes later in the film, however, Stoic the Vast's opinion of Hiccup changed due to his brave exploits: "I'm proud to call you my son," his father beamed. "It seems they share a performance-based relationship," I said aloud. The son was always working to earn the approval of his father, and the father exuded bitterness at perceived failures yet pride for apparent success. Stoic viewed Hiccup in light of his failure or success, whether he was able to meet or exceed expectations he had for his son. Sadly, I don't think the dynamics of their relationship are unique. Performance-based relationships are more common than we might think.
One thing for which I am grateful is God's gracious acceptance of flawed people because He loves them--not because they have measured up to His immaculate standard. In my personal experience with corporations and workplaces it was always very much, "What have you done for me lately?" rather than trust and mutual respect. Any favour was a thinly veiled "You Owe Me" rather than "Well done." Isn't it amazing that we owe God for everything, yet He never once says "You owe me?" The wise realise we owe Him our lives, all we possess, and can only credit Him for the amazing future He has in store for us. Just because we can't measure up doesn't mean working to please Him isn't worth it. We are called to wisely respond to the everlasting love He has extended to us, humbled to be His chosen, adopted child.
With God we are not in a performance-based relationship, yet at the same time faithful servants will be rewarded accordingly. He entrusts more to those who are faithful in the little things. Instead of despising the days of small things, we are to be faithful unto the LORD who has provided all things by grace. Every day is a good day to praise and honour God, the One who has accepted us and is pleased to call us His own even when we fail and fall. What peace, rest, and comfort is ours by the mercy and grace of God. God is not proud of us but pleased with us, for ours is a relationship based on love, not performance.
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