My oldest grandson has become involved in an organization that greatly benefited my early years—the 4-H. For the past two years, he has participated in raising and showing goats. Each year the 4-H gives him a goat at no cost. He is then responsible to take care of it—food, water, and medicine—and to train it for show competition. Last year, I attended one of these events. It was interesting to watch these kids from five to eighteen years old parade their goats around the arena. A few five year olds showed goats larger than they were. Overall, the majority had trained their animals well to follow their promptings. In contrast, a few goats were unmanageable in the ring and underweight according to the judges. It did not require a trained judge to realize that these owners had taken their goat home and given it minimal attention. Those who were properly fed, groomed, given medical care, and worked-out every day were healthy and followed the commands given them. In either case, regardless of the attention or lack of, each boy and girl owned his or her goat. The 4-H gave it to them. They would even sell it at the end of the year and keep the profit. But those who had worked with their goat, won the competitions and received addition money and prizes.
Last week I wrote that Jesus did all that was needed for our salvation. We cannot do anything that will add to His finished work. All we must do is receive it by faith. My goal for last week’s lesson was to bring some insight to those who constantly live under a burden wondering if they have done enough. Yet, there is another extreme at the other end of this truth; those who treat their gift of salvation like the kids who received their goats, but then gave it little attention and only minimum care. Each year, all that my grandson has to do is go and get the goat the 4-H club has given him. However, that is not the end of the story for him or for our gift of salvation. Paul told the Philippians, work out your salvation (2:12). At a glance, this would appear contradictory to last week. But note, what he does not say: work for your salvation; work toward your salvation or work at your salvation.
Salvation is far more than a ‘fire insurance policy’ keeping us from the eternal fires of hell. The benefits of salvation, even in this life, are more than I could begin listing in this limited space. Yet, in order to gain the fullness of the blessings, we have to work out our salvation. A better way of translating this phrase is, cultivate your salvation, live out your salvation, or actively live out the Christian life. We do not work for our salvation, but we must work out or cultivate our salvation.
For the first time in many years, now that we live on a farm, I plan to plant a garden. I already possess the garden plot, but I know it will require a lot of work to produce vegetables. I must work out or cultivate my garden in order to benefit from its fruits. This is what Paul means when he says work out your salvation.
I enjoy gardening. It was also apparent that the kids who did well in the goat competition enjoyed all their preparation work. It was not a burden or something they dreaded every day. Cultivating our salvation should be an enjoyable experience. Jesus said, Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Mat 11:28). He said this because the scribes and the Pharisees had tied up heavy burdens and laid them on men’s shoulders (Mat 23:4). In addition to God’s Law, they had created a multitude of their own rules, laws, and demanded the people also keep them. As a result, the people were weary and heavy-laden. In contrast, Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light. The word light is also used to describe the weight of a bird’s feathers.
‘Work out’ or ‘cultivate’ your salvation is a verb giving a command. It is not an option. However, if what you are doing is heavy and wearing you out, maybe you need to examine whose yoke you are wearing and why you are wearing it. Paul addresses this issue to the Galatians’ church, do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Gal 5:1). In that same verse, he says that Christ has set us free from burdensome yokes. It is important to note this is not a freedom to live as we desire and keep on sinning, but it is a freedom allowing us to live out the Christian life and gain all its benefits.
Sustaining Word for the Week:
Stop working for your salvation and begin cultivating the salvation He gave you. It is not a heavy burden.