Daisies

“Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.  For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”  Romans 8:12-15 NIV

I’ve been wrestling with this word “obligation” lately.  I don’t like it.  At least in the context of a relationship with Christ I don’t.  I had a healthy debate with a good friend about it this morning.  He argued that we are obligated to serve God because of what Christ did for us.  Here’s why I sort of disagree…

Webster’s definition: something by which a person is bound or obliged to do, and which arises out of a sense of duty or results from custom, law, etc.  OR a debt of gratitude.

Scriptures promise us that we are “sons of God”.  He is our Father.  If I compare this scenario to my own parent/son relationship it doesn’t really add up.

A couple of weeks ago Ethan really wanted a new game on the computer.  He asked & asked until I finally gave in and paid for part of it for him.  Later that evening he put my supper dishes in the sink and took his shower without being asked.  It was really nice having an agreeable son for a change, but I knew why he was doing it.  He felt obligated and was paying his debt of gratitude.  Apparently the debt was paid by morning since things went quickly back to normal.

Contrast that with a couple of weeks earlier.  Out of the clear blue sky, for absolutely no particular reason he comes to me with a big handful of wild daises – beaming.  He told me they were for me because he knows they’re my favorite.  No obligation.  No gratitude.  Simply a  genuine act of love.

Can you guess which one meant more to me?

For years of my life I served out of a sense of obligation.  Jesus died on a cross for me.  That’s a pretty big debt of gratitude to repay.  And that’s what good little Christians are supposed to do.  Serve here.  Give there.    AND – don’t go here.  Don’t go there.

The Church takes obligation and runs with it.  It gets bills paid and volunteer rosters filled up.  Tack on a little guilt and you might even get a new wing on the building.  But there is a problem with this system.  We can never ever serve or give enough to pay that kind of debt.  Never.  God knew that didn’t He?  Isn’t that why we’re told that our debt has been paid?  Isn’t that why Jesus died on the cross in the first place?

But the passage says “brothers, we have an obligation…”  and we do.  We have an obligation to live a life of freedom, because Jesus paid an awful lot for it.  And when we embrace that gift and truly comprehend it, we will ACHE to serve and give.  Genuine acts of love.

Obligation has led the Church to great acts of service and love and redemption over the centuries.  But I wonder if the acts of service, love and redemption that have been chosen through freedom don’t mean a little bit more to our Father.

“So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent.  There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all.  The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life.  God’s Spirit beckons.  There are things to do and places to go!  This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.  It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?’”  Romans 8:12-15 MSG