So what does it mean to have faith? In simple terms we say it is to believe in something or someone; or to trust something or someone. I like to add a little more to it and say that to have faith is to entrust ourselves to something or someone. In that sense because we have faith in a chair to be able to take our weight (and not break) we entrust ourselves to it and therefore sit on it. Of course, this analogy can also point to that sometimes our faith can be mistaken; I might put faith in a broken chair or a weak chair and experience a rather unpleasant result. Therefore it also seems to matter that we practice our faith in a reasonable manner.
In line with that thought, then we might say that faith is not necessarily blind. While we may also argue against that notion, allow me to explain a little. Imagine taking a risk. Now what are the chances that we will take a risk when it is evident that we will most likely fail? I think, we may still go ahead, for example buying that lottery ticket just to see our luck, but with not much confidence in a good outcome. However, if we knew that we had a higher probability of winning we might be more willing to take a calculated risk. Commercial establishments understand this and it can be seen in the personalized letters they send. I used to received letters from a certain establishment about how I was selected from among these many people and how I stood a very good chance to hit the jackpot. This was a legitimate enterprise though such scams are more prevalent today.
Though faith is more than a calculated risk, the point is that it is not necessarily a rash choice. I do not think of faith as the last option that we have to take because there is no other visible and viable options to take. True, we might arrive to faith through such an experience, but the ongoing practice of faith cannot be defined as such. Why? Because faith, in the biblical sense, has to be rooted in something. Faith is not placed in a vacuum; doubt may be part of the process; we might begin with an "if" but even that "if" takes into account the reality of a possibility and that "if" is not placed in an absolute vacuum. The ground of our faith then, is in the belief that God is and we live out that belief by entrusting ourselves to Him. In the difficult moment, God is; in the calm ones, God is; in the confusing phase of life, God is; in the hurting times, God is. Immanuel, God with us at all times and in all seasons. So to practice faith is to entrust ourselves to God knowing that He will make things work out for us.
But does that free us to simply believe and nothing else? To simply say, because I believe God and He is doing all things I have to do nothing? Such a conclusion, to free ourselves from any responsibilities or obligations towards living a life of faith will be erroneous. If faith sets for us the foundation for life, work shows us the direction we are taking. What does it mean to work in line with faith? It means to live responsibly and with persevering commitment knowing that God is there. Faith and work go hand in hand. To work responsibly is to live fulfilling the task required of us truthfully. Works can also be understood as doing acts of kindness (good works). However, in our conversation here, work is defined as living out responsibly our faith in God, that is to say as we entrust ourselves to Him, we continue to truthfully persevere in our current station of life as we continue to seek God's will.
I normally explain this principle to the students in the class by saying, as we continue to study diligently and truthfully, wholly aware that God has called us to such a task as this, He will in the right season open doors for us. That is work and faith going hand in hand; working with our whole person believing God will open the door; entrusting our future to Him. Why all these toils and works? So that when the right opportunity comes, as we believe it will, we are found ready, we are found appropriately equipped. I think this can be extended to any of us pursuing any career or searching for a career option even as we do so in faith seeking God's will.
A word of caution here though, that God will also work for us as we in faith continue to give our best is not akin to a legal contractual agreement. To put it differently, God is not under any obligation to show us His favour (though He freely chose to do it). It is not that God will only act, if we will only. I think there are a number of things that God does for us even when we are unable. So our working is not to buy merit and compel God to keep His side of the bargain. Rather our working is a response to Him and what He has done and what He can do.
We might bring this to an end here, but here is a third component that struck me as I left the classroom that day. It is a simple word: grace. I could not help but think how grace is also a key part of this relationship between faith and work. Imagine a child bringing a crayon art and beaming with pride as the parents takes it and looks at it with delight. We are like that child, and like that child who receives due encouragements, we receive grace. This is the God who created everything and knows everything, what do we think we can surprise Him with? God taking delight in us and the works we do with all their limitations, that is grace. Loving-kindness is the other word, and His loving-kindness is on us each day and perhaps there is more to grace than we understand. The more we understand, the fuller our lives are, the richer we are as persons.
It is in faith that I continue to live as I entrust my life to God trusting in His goodness and wisdom. It is in the sense of my responsibility that I respond and continue to work though at times I fail to give my best. It is in God's grace that I have been led thus far and it is God's grace that sustains me and will sustain. To your own journey, as you experience the fullness of these three. Faith. Work. Grace.
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