When I was attending college, one of my professors put a unique twist on grades in some of his classes. He told us we could choose our final grade at the beginning of the class. He then gave each of us a list that showed the requirements for each grade. If I fulfilled the minimum requirements, I would get a C. If I wanted a better grade, I had to fulfill the minimum and go beyond that to receive a B. If I wanted an A, I needed to do all of that plus some more.
If you were a teacher, how would you feel if your students insisted on doing only enough to pass, just the absolute minimum, so they would not flunk your classes?
If you were an employer, how would you feel if your employees insisted on doing only the minimum, only what they were specifically told to do and no more? What would happen to your business?
What if your children did only what you specifically commanded them to do and ignored anything and everything that was expressed merely as a “wish” or a “preference?”
What if your spouse did only what your marriage vows specifically stated?
or imagine a man making this marriage proposal to a woman:
“I would like you to marry me. You can live in my nice house. We will share a large bank account. You can have access to any of my property. But I insist that you do nothing except love me and my children. If you do anything more than that, I will take that to indicate that you are trying to earn my favor and we cannot allow that. I told my former wife some things I wanted her to do and rumors started going around that I was an unreasonable tyrant. We ended up getting separated and divorced. We had some vows written down and I still have those vows stored away somewhere. You can read them, but don’t do any of them because someone might get the wrong idea about you. I don’t like divorce so I will make it very simple for you – I don’t care what you do. Just love me and my children and you can do as you please.”
What sort of woman would accept that kind of proposal? What kind of relationship would develop?
Some Christians say,
“Just believe. That’s what Acts 16:31 says. Anything more than faith is legalism.”
“If you put any effort into your relationship with God, it should be toward making sure you are not putting effort into it.”
“Your relationship with God will naturally flow from your love for Him. It won’t take any effort on your part. If it doesn’t feel good and natural, that will indicate that you are trying to earn His favor by your works.”
“The old Covenant was ‘Obey the Law and you will live.’ But the new Covenant is different. It involves having the Law in your heart.” (Nothing is mentioned about doing all that the Law says; just have it in your heart.)
“Love God. Love people. Period.” (Don’t be concerned about obedience or cooperation or submission; just love.)
“According to Ephesians 2:8, 9 we are saved by grace not works.” (There is no mention of verse 10 that tells us that we were created to walk in good works.)
What did Jesus have to say about someone who only did the minimum?
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:30
We are told to be diligent in being what God wants. That means putting effort into making sure it happens; don’t ignore and neglect it and let it slide.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2 Peter 3:14
If being conscientious about doing all God wants is legalism, then Jesus and Paul were extreme legalists.
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. John 8:29
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:25-27
By what means, then, shall we determine whose side we are on? Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we are Christ’s, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things. Steps to Christ, p. 58
Don’t settle for the minimum. Put effort into learning all that pleases God, going beyond merely what He requires. He went far beyond the minimum for you.