Escaping the fear of trying too hard
Posted at Reformation Scotland:
Trying too hard, especially without self-awareness, is something which many people want to avoid because of the vicarious embarrassment it creates in others. The fear of being seen as cringe holds people back from embracing and wholeheartedly pursing their own interests. Young people in particular can feel pressurised to conform to mainstream tastes in order to avoid becoming a target of mockery, especially online, where scrutiny can be intense and judgment harsh. Meanwhile the counter-reaction, which proclaims that “cringe culture is dead,” does not present a genuinely satisfactory alternative. Although this counter-movement proposes that people should uninhibitedly pursue their own passions regardless of other people’s opinions, it mostly simply embraces the same things as cringe culture mocked, irrespective of their merit. Real freedom from the fear of other people’s judgment does not come through the bravado of denying that we care what anyone else thinks of us. Our sights should be set on something higher than the fun of finding our own niche and the joy of self-fulfilment. It’s more about having a passion for something that is truly excellent in itself and realising that, regardless of whether it brings us lots of likes or tons of negative feedback, it’s too valuable not to pursue. That something, in the view of Andrew Gray, is salvation. Andrew Gray noticed that the advice of the Proverbs is to be diligent, especially in making our peace with God, being reconciled to Christ, and preparing for heaven. In the following updated and condensed excerpt, Andrew Gray challenges us to be diligent about the righteousness and holiness which God requires.Diligence makes us rich
Solomon says, “The hand of the diligent maketh rich” (Proverbs 10:4). Diligence makes a Christian rich in experience, rich in love, rich in humility, and, for that matter, rich in all the spiritual things in heaven. If you were diligent, who knows what you wouldn’t achieve!
We don’t have much time
But, Christians, “the night is coming, wherein none will see to work” (John 9:4). Our time to remain in this valley of misery is only short. For all you know, this may be the eleventh hour of the day for you, and you may only have one hour left, but your everlasting destiny depends on the use you make of the time you’ve got. Therefore, be diligent.
If you mis-spend your time, it is impossible to recover the loss. “Therefore, while it is called ‘today,’ harden not your hearts, but hearken to his voice” (Hebrews 4:7). Some of you who are hearing me now will end up standing on the brink between time and eternity and remember what that man said, and will be forced to cry out, “Call time back again! Call time back!” But it will be a fruitless request. Therefore, be diligent.
The task is important
Christians, you have a great work. Therefore be diligent! Isn’t putting sin to death a great work? Isn’t self-denial a great work? Isn’t patiently bearing the cross a great work? Don’t you have a long journey to go? Therefore, be diligent!
Other people put this much effort into much more worthless things
To encourage you to exercise the excellent grace of diligence, consider the great diligence and effort that worldly people put towards pursuing their idols. Christians, doesn’t it put you to shame to see one of them compassing sea and land to gain some trivial inheritance? Won’t you put in as much effort to attain an everlasting crown? Are the people of the world not only wiser but also more diligent than the children of light (Luke 16:8)? Let the competition begin! They get up before daybreak to purchase a vanity, but you leave it till after dawn to obtain a crown!
Christians, you have a great work. Therefore be diligent! Isn’t putting sin to death a great work? Isn’t self-denial a great work? Isn’t patiently bearing the cross a great work? Don’t you have a long journey to go? Therefore, be diligent!
Other people put this much effort into much more worthless things
To encourage you to exercise the excellent grace of diligence, consider the great diligence and effort that worldly people put towards pursuing their idols. Christians, doesn’t it put you to shame to see one of them compassing sea and land to gain some trivial inheritance? Won’t you put in as much effort to attain an everlasting crown? Are the people of the world not only wiser but also more diligent than the children of light (Luke 16:8)? Let the competition begin! They get up before daybreak to purchase a vanity, but you leave it till after dawn to obtain a crown!
