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Bare Minimum Christianity


"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:10)


It is so frustrating to be on the job with someone who has the mindset of doing the bare minimum. They have no vision to make things better, no motivation to do things with excellence and no desire to do anything above what is required. Most employers aren't looking for these type of workers. A person who only does what they "have to do" deserves no special recognition or reward. They did their job, nothing more and nothing less.

As servants of God's kingdom, we can sometimes be guilty of falling prey to this same mindset. You can get by with doing the bare minimum spiritually — read your Bible, pray occasionally, go to church at least once a week, serve in a ministry when you are able, give a little and invite someone to church here and there. (Honestly, it is a sad inditement on modern day Christianity that even this seems to be a rare occurrence among most believers today!) Strangely, we often feel we deserve some kind of spiritual blessing for this kind of effort. 

The sad reality is that one day you will look back on your life with nothing but regret if this is how you choose to live. God is worthy of our best and our all -- not the bare minimum. To give Him anything less is to become like the servants in Jesus' parable — unprofitable. Some other words we could use for this are useless or good for nothing. When you choose to get by with the bare minimum spiritually, it is a tell tale sign that you have given something or someone else a higher priority in your life than God.

If you find yourself in such a place, let me suggest a simple solution: Change your mindset. If you want to live for God with the type of effort He deserves, it is time for you to admit where you haven't been doing so and commit to change your ways. Give God your first and your best. Go above and beyond the call of duty to the arena of devotion. When you remember that you do what you do for Jesus, it should compel you to do it all with excellence and your best effort. As the Scripture says, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24)

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