The title question this week is a genuine call for personal reflection. Many of the answers will be very pragmatic. Others will involve deep psychological motivations, perhaps some consciously chosen and some rising from subconscious depths. The question hardly ever has a simple, single answer. It is a question that each of us should ask ourselves and devote sufficient energy to answer seriously and candidly: “Why do you do what you do?”
The predominant answers have to do with earning a living. Most people do what they do in order to earn a paycheck to provide food, shelter, other living necessities, and additional benefits for themselves and their families. For some others, the answers revolve around caring for the needs of family and the community. While one partner pursues financial resources and security another partner gives primary attention to managing the household, child rearing, caring for an incapacitated loved one, or meeting community needs. People who have previously worked and are now retired have a greater degree of freedom to choose what they do – but this may create difficulty stating satisfactorily why they do what they do. The “Why?” question may be hard to answer succinctly because it applies to such a broad range of activities.
Focusing on a subset of activities or functions may help clarify why we do what we do. We are, after all, more than our jobs, or official positions in organizations, or roles in our families. We can ask “why?” of countless discreet deeds occupying our lives. Dissecting the minutia of motivations for the myriad acts that consume our days can become paralyzing. Still, understanding why we do things can be a useful step in evaluating our accomplishments.
Try answering “Why?” for an activity that helps to define your identity to others. This is likely to be something that takes a considerable amount of your time and effort. It could be job-related or it could be some act of service you do regularly. I’ll share one of the “Why?” reflections I have been doing and some of the answers I have discovered in order to help you think through your own reasons for your doings.
A reader asked – and I have asked myself often – “Why do you write these devotionals each week?” Good question! I am retired, so I don’t have a job description that lists “write and post a weekly devotional” as one of my duties of employment. I receive no financial return for writing. No formal commitment to fill the role of “Weekly Devotional Writer” exists with any organization. Why do I do what I do? Here are some parts of the answer:
I do this because I’m doing what God called me to do. That sounds very pious, but the answer has many pragmatic elements. Because of my understanding of what God would have me to do, I engaged in a long study of theology, communicating (preaching) the gospel, and how people think about their lives (philosophy). I am heavily invested in interpreting and communicating God’s word. Although I am out of a pulpit on a regular basis, I nevertheless understand that God has prepared me and expects me to use that preparation and any gifts underlying it to help people understand who God is and how they can live in his love and grace. I find writing and posting Blind Faith to be particularly suited to my current time and place in life. For me, it fits well with Paul’s admonitions: “God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you. {7} If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. {8} If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6-8 NLT) Note that the tasks go well beyond typical roles for professional ministers/church staffers. Whatever gifts, abilities, training, or personality you may have, you are ideally equipped to demonstrate God’s grace. Peter joins Paul in calling for us to engage our best faculties in service to God: “Serve one another with the particular gifts God has given each of you, as faithful dispensers of the magnificently varied grace of God. If any of you is a preacher then he should preach his message as from God. And in whatever way [anyone] serves the Church he should do it recognizing the fact that God gives him his ability, so that God may be glorified in everything through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10-11 J. B. Phillips)
I do this to foster and sustain faith in God – yours and mine. I always pray that at least one person each week finds a word here that encourages his or her faith enough to cause them to do something about it. My faith is strengthened when I hear from you and when you share insights God has given you. Mutual spiritual enrichment is a big part of why I do this. Paul knew this answer, too: “I want very much to see you, to give you some spiritual gift to make you strong. {12} I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.” (Romans 1:11-12 NCV)
I do this because electronic media can take these messages anywhere – especially with your help. Once an e-mail is sent or something is posted online, those words can end up anywhere in the world. I’ll never know everyone who reads Blind Faith. That’s not my place: my role is to help God’s word for today reach as far as possible. Your prayers – and forwards and re-posts – are essential for that to happen. Paul gives a warrant for this answer, too: “Don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.” (Ephesians 6:19-20 MSG)
So, why do you do what you do? Wrestle with the particular answers that fit your life. Just don’t miss the overarching answer: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31b NIV)
- J. Edward Culpepper
Want to receive Blind Faith each week by e-mail? Send a message with the subject “Subscribe Blind Faith” to:
