Has there even been an event that you were "supposed" to go to but didn't want to. I mean like a church or club event and you were "supposed" to volunteer. And they gave you the guilt trip. "Please come anyways" makes it sound like you're the laziest person on earth and are always making excuses. I wanted to go to this event though (sort of). The problem was that someone pretty much forced me not to. I truly did want to go, but I believe that I was going out of obligation.
The consequences of doing activities out of obligation are huge. If we keep doing things out of obligation, we become apathetic. We lose relationships. We become cynical. The whole "go to church on Sunday" statement sounds like an obligation all on its own. (I'm NOT saying go to church whenever you want to. But when you go to church, you should have a sense of joy and gratefulness to fellowship instead of feeling like you have to be there). Most of all, obligation isn't love.
When someone does something out of love, it transforms the entire experience. It brings hope, joy, and celebration while doing the activity, making it worthwhile. And if you're trying to evangelize a community, this makes it even better and more effective because you're bringing people to Jesus out of love, not just because the Bible said to go and make disciples of all nations. I realize that I'm speaking in very vague terms here, but I want to try to express what it means to do something out of obligation, and to do something out of love.
All too often, I have done several things out of obligation. The requests for me to go and do something because I'm a "nice person" happen all too often. I remember this past week when I was hanging out with friends I felt like it was a crime and I haven't been out with my friends in months before then. I feel terrible when I can't go to youth group events, as if I don't have enough time for God and I seriously need to change my schedule. Why?-because somehow I've learned that we are all obligated to go to every single youth group event and if we don't, then something is wrong with our spiritual life. Now, yes, in some cases there are those teenagers who need to spend their time more wisely and perhaps youth group is a way to keep them grounded and out of trouble. But all too often I wonder if these events help to further the gospel. If they truly reach out to others. And if they are, is it out of the fact that your youth group pastor told you to go, or did you want to go? Were you just sitting down in the background when you heard of the event, or were you on the planning committee?
I remember back in the fall and spring when for a singing group, we performed at nursing homes and with adolescents with special needs. It was so much fun! And it wasn't out of obligation. I felt like I was helping to serve the Kingdom. Yes, while many people would think that it's just a performance, it was special. It was special because I believe that I was using love rather than obligation to bring people joy and to learn more about their lives. And that's what love truly is.
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