“He must become
greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)
Courage to Do Less
We live in a culture dominated by the word more. Success is not measured by obedience to God
or by the fruit of the Spirit (peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, etc.) one
bears. Success is measured by getting more
money, more information, more square feet in your home, more
friends, more cable channels, more members in your church, more pixels on your digital camera, more
minutes on your cell phone, more power on your computer, and more
miles per gallon.
Education reflects this.
More children need to pass state exams. We need more technology, more information, more
programs, more team meetings, more faculty meetings, more
district meetings, more money, more paperwork, more accountability.... MORE!
MORE! MORE! Do you hear Satan screaming like a spoiled child, “I demand more! Give me more!” Everywhere everyone is rushing
through life seeking the illusive More which they can never catch. More
has become a deity and the heart of More is greed.
Do you see Jesus standing on the side of this busy
freeway? He is holding up various signs
as we pass. Slow down! Pull over! Turn off
the radio and TV! Put your cell phone down!
Turn off your computer! The
cars are rushing by at such high speeds few can read the signs. Few acknowledge, except on Sunday mornings,
that His directions are even worth heeding.
Can you read His lips? He is
saying, “Less is more. Less is more. Come follow me and I will give
you rest. I will give you peace.” He is also asking us some questions, “Does more and more make-up make you more
beautiful? Does more and more food make
you healthier and healthier? Does more and more luggage make your vacation
better? Does more and more furniture
make your house more comfortable?”
A junior high math teacher, Vilma Rivera, felt like she
was drowning in the More Ocean at her school.
What she was being asked to do and what she was asking herself to do
were truly impossible using the time and resources she was given. She was spending hour after hour beyond the
school day preparing lessons, grading papers, attending meetings and completing
paperwork. Her joy and love of teaching
had both been drowned and she was in need of rescue and resuscitation. She was mentally and physically exhausted,
totally drained. She was not physically exercising or giving her growing family
at home and her church family the time they needed.
During this period of her life, while in prayer, the Lord
spoke to her heart saying, “Work one hour
beyond the school day and let the rest go.
Watch what I will do.” At
that point she was ready to try anything so she began to obey that directive.
She worked only one hour beyond the school day giving 100% to 110% effort while
she was there and then she let it go.
Things weren’t perfect. Many
things were left undone at school yet she renewed her commitment to her family
at home, the church, and the regular exercise she needed to stay healthy.
When she came back to work each day she had much more
energy and a more positive attitude. She
was much more productive. Joy and
creativity which had once been the trademark of her teaching style returned
like a flood. Although some things, mostly paperwork, were left undone, the
quality of her lessons improved greatly.
God always gave her the time to catch up on her paperwork later. By doing less she received more.
There are numerous Biblical examples of doing less
resulting in deliverance or victory. The Old Testament warrior leader Joshua
could have stormed Jericho’s walls and put up siege ramps to topple the enemy,
but God said, “No.” God said, “Less is more.” God told him to march around the
city, blow some trumpets and shout. Wow! It worked! The walls fell down. Gideon, the least of his family, was called
by God to be a military leader and to save his nation from foreign
invasion. He gathered over 20,000 troops
to fight with him but God said, “No.”
God said, “Send all but 300 of them home. Surround your enemy with torches and trumpets
and watch what I will do.” Wow! It
worked. Peter tried to protect Jesus by
using the power of his sword against the enemy and cut off a soldier’s
ear. Jesus said, “No. Less is more.” He told Peter to put up his sword and then
healed the man’s bleeding ear. A family
gave up their picnic lunch one day. They
chose less and, as a result, Jesus fed over 5,000 people.
God cries out for obedience to Him in His schools. He cries out, “Seek me first and I will add all things unto you, such as high
academic achievement.” He also says,
“Don’t believe that just by doing more
you are going to get more. Stop serving
More. I will give you the courage it takes to do less. Obey me and watch what I
will do.”
Prayer: Lord, show us
what you want us to do. Show us in what
areas of our profession we need to do less.
Application: Write down one
or two areas of your professional life where God wants you to do less. Obey.
Sharing: Share these
areas with a close trusted Christian friend where you work. Hold each other
accountable.
CLASSROOM
LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE!
(For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) #12
Prayerfully dependent,
K
PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement.
• Follow us on Twitter for the prayer prompts @one16pray
May God bless you with success His way this 2013-2014 school year.
Christian Educators Association International is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools. CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.
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