Half measures, ultimate failure

Give it your all

The great temptation of my life is not to sin in some terrible way. The seduction of just doing ‘enough’ tugs at me all the time. A little voice asks, “Why give it your all when giving half will be acceptable in most situations?”  Isn’t so true that the good is often the enemy of the best?

Old Testament stories are lessons for life given to us by God. Amaziah was a king of Judah who offers us a challenge. "Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, but not like his ancestor David. Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash. Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines, and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there." (2 Kings 14:3-4, NLT)  Amaziah was personally dedicated to the true worship of the LORD, but to avoid conflict, he appeased the people of his realm by leaving their idols in place. He chose political expedience over godly devotion.

His willingness to compromise caught up with him over time. Though he was a good king who achieved many successes on behalf of Judah, he became arrogant, started an unnecessary war, met defeat, and was assassinated. Committing to excellence in life, making the push for total devotion, is costly but worth it in the end. Half-heartedness is a slippery slope to mediocrity.

There are examples of faithfulness and devotion in the Word. Daniel, carried off from his homeland to a foreign city, kept the faith. Over 60 years he refused to ‘go along to get along.’ His commitment to God and high principle landed him in the lions’ den for an overnight stay. But, he also gained respect and honored the LORD. Even his enemies acknowledged the qualities of his life and urged that he be summoned to the court in times of crisis. "There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. ... This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems.” (Daniel 5:11-12, NLT)  Does the excellence of your life and character make you a ‘go to guy’ for friends?

Here’s a word from the Word. “Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence…  The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 1:5-8 NLT)