Are you a doer or a becomer? A clearer way of asking this question is, “Are you most concerned about what people see you accomplish, or do you care more about being known for a strong character?” The two pursuits are not mutually exclusive. You can focus on being a person of strong character and still have great accomplishments. However, the reverse is not always true.
As men, when we get concerned about impressing others with what we do, we are tempted to take moral or ethical shortcuts to add to that resumé. This is a trick of Satan and must be guarded against.
Jesus gives us a great object lesson on the difference between a doer and a becomer through a visit he has with some close friends. We find it recorded for us in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus dropped in on a family whom he visited often. They are two sisters, Mary, and Martha.
This encounter focuses on the choices of the two sisters who reacted very differently to the appearance of Jesus. Martha immediately got busy in the kitchen. She worked feverishly to assure that everything would be exactly right for the meal. Mary chose a vastly different pursuit. She just wanted to spend time in the presence of Jesus. This ticked off Martha and she complained to Jesus. In fact, she appealed to Jesus to step in and get Mary to help. Verse 40, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” But Jesus did not respond the way Martha had anticipated. In verses 41-42 he replies, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What is the point Jesus is making? After all, we are often encouraged in Scripture to serve our Lord through our actions. We are challenge to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. So, why is Martha scolded for her act of service? The simple answer is motive. Jesus is pointing out that our actions must flow from hearts that are filled with the presence of our Lord. Our accomplishments will fall flat if we are performing them to impress others. The primary reason for this is that we are so busy doing, we never take time to assure that we are becoming godly men. A decision to focus on who we are becoming has positive results in all areas of our lives. Spending time building Christlikeness into our lives always pleases God and opens the door for his favor. Also, when we are filled with the love of Christ, our doing becomes much more purposeful. We no longer must worry about what people think of our accomplishments if we are fulfilling the expectation of a loving God. By the way, if you have not already learned this, you soon will. You will never please people, no matter how hard you try!! Someone will always think you could have done better.
However, living to become pleasing to God has a positive outcome. We never reach perfection in this life, but that is not the goal set before us. In Philippians 3, Paul reveals how this truth has worked in his life. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
What are you becoming today? What practices have you adopted to assure you become all God wants you to be? What steps need to be taken to assure you are not simply a doer?