Living Open-Handed: Devotions for Surrendering Control and Finding Joy in the UnexpectedSample

You Cannot Win God's Approval

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. ECCLESIASTES 9:7

People try to "win points" with God through good deeds, donating, giving up vices, and more, but ultimately, it's the heart behind why you do those things. Are you seeing them as a transaction with God, hoping to receive His favor and approval? Or is the motivation due to the overflow from your heart, from already knowing you’re approved of? It’s easy to get lost in the toil. Early on in my career, I was determined to write about my faith every Sunday, even when all I really wanted to do was rest. I told myself that if I didn’t do it, then God wouldn’t approve of my work and, in turn, He wouldn’t approve of me. But did God ever tell me that? No. I put that strange, self-righteous pressure on myself. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself that rest is pleasing in God’s eyes, but I don’t know if my younger self would have believed it.

Do you find yourself toiling for God’s approval? Oh, friend, in Christ, we are free. We are approved of. We are chosen. We strive to live like Christ not because we want God to love us but because He already does. And not only has He already approved of us, but He also wants good things for us. He wants us to enjoy the life we have been given. So many “religious” people believe that living in a way that diminishes joy and light shows how serious they are about their faith. In Ecclesiastes, we see God say, “GO!” He tells us that whatever we do, we should do it with gladness and joy! Do you live in a way that displays how God has already approved of you? Are you living in freedom while also pursuing righteousness?

Dear Lord, please help me remember that work is a good thing but not the main thing, that it is not a way for me to earn Your approval. You come first in all things. Amen.

Reflect: Where in your life do you find yourself trying to gain God’s approval? Do you find having a joyful, glad spirit in your everyday actions easy or challenging?