05/07/2022
Are we piddlers? It’s one thing to be this way in our everyday lives, but quite something else to be known as a piddler when it comes to our faithfulness to God, and belief in Jesus Christ. A piddler is a person who wastes their time in trivial pursuits, while avoiding the more important things. They miss the mark by wasting their time on piddley pursuits while ignoring what really needs to be done. Is this how we are known to the saints in our church when it comes to religion, or to God regarding our faith? Has He called us to do certain things for Him, but we busy ourselves with unrelated pursuits and never seem to get around to obeying Him… to doing His will?
“But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”
Jeremiah 7:23-24 ESV
I knew a man who was a consummate piddler; he found an excuse not to do anything of importance, but tended daily to the things that interested him at the moment, and suited his fancy. Even in these meaningless pursuits, of his own liking, he would seldom complete them, and like a butterfly he flitted from one blossom to another. When those around him were working to accomplish important tasks he would go off on some tangent that meant nothing to the project at hand, and so he was never asked to do the important things at hand, and was generally laughed at because of his foolish behavior. Is this how we want to be known in our church, and regarding our faith? Do we want the Lord to be reluctant to give us what is important, laugh at our failures, and simply watch as we go foolishly our own way?
“Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.”
Proverbs 1:24-27 ESV
God doesn’t give up on piddlers, or others who don’t obey Him straightway. He can reform them, but it usually takes a mighty storm in their lives, and a season of suffering before they see the light; the Bible is full of such stories. Sampson who paid more attention to Delilah and lost his eyes, David who lost His son, Jonah who spent time in the belly of a whale, and others… people, and nations alike, who would rather go their own way, or do things that mean something to themselves, but little to God. So what is our character like? Is it one of faithfulness? Do we answer God’s call, and do His will, or is our time being spent in the trivial and perhaps often liturgical tasks that surround what is truly important? Are we behaving foolishly?
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools,”
Romans 1:21-22 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for calling us to do the jobs, and tasks, that are important to you. Thank you for revealing your will to us, and allowing us to be a part of it. Help us Lord to pursue these things with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Give us perseverance, and the wherewithal to stay the course you have set for us, and to obey you in each of your commandments. Teach us Father to be true as Jesus is true, and to set aside our own piddley interests, while concentrating on those you would have us do. Holy Father, correct us when we stray, and don’t let us become foolish in our behavior, or pursue those things that would cause the saints of the church to laugh at us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who calls us to believe in your Son Jesus Christ, and gives us important tasks to do for you, and your kingdom. Praised be your name for the small, and large things alike that you ask of us. Merciful are you Father for your grace is sufficient, and your Holy Spirit is our guide in serving you in all you ask of us. Perfect us Lord so that we will be like Jesus in our relationship and obedience to you. Wash us with His blood, cleansing us of all sin, and transforming us from spiritual piddlers into pillars of faithfulness, and obedience. Judge us as worthy when we stand before you Father, and announce us as your children while calling us each by name. Make us foundation stones alongside our Lord Jesus, and hear us each as we say “it is done”, while joining you forevermore.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”
Matthew 25:21 ESV
Rich Forbes