Keys to the Kingdom

Around third or fourth grade, I was watching my Dad push mow the yard. I thought it looked like fun so I asked him if I could give it a try. He gave me some instructions and away I went. That was the beginning of my fun affair with a lawn mower. Fast forward to 2020, we purchased a 60” zero-turn Bad Boy mower. The only instructions the salesman gave me was, “Make sure it’s on full throttle when you engage the blades.” In fact, all the mowing, from start to finish is accomplished at full power — the speed of the mower varies, but the power of the engine is full on.

The definition of “full throttle” is holding nothing back, with great intensity, full speed, as much speed and energy as possible, the maximum setting on an engine, an all-out effort. That’s a pretty good definition of a true Christ follower. I’m not referring to burning the candle at both ends or running on fumes. We need to make sure we’re not overworked and under-joyed as we give God everything we’ve got. Crashing and burning accomplishes absolutely nothing for the Kingdom of God. But it does give the onlookers something to talk about. The goal is to love God and others and do His will in a balanced “all or nothing” lifestyle.

Believers can’t cut the grass or the mustard if we’re not living at full throttle for God. A compromising Christian who has one foot in the world and one foot in God’s Kingdom  is simply going to bog down and wimp out. Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). Because Jesus left the splendor of heaven, died on Calvary’s cross and rose triumphantly for us to have an abundant life through Him, the least we can do is give Him our all. Believers should be prepared to roll up their sleeves in their service for Christ. Let’s determine to be a powerhouse for God, not a playhouse.

God never cuts corners and Christians shouldn’t either. “Whatever you are doing, let your hearts be in your work, as a thing done for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23 WNT). God wants us to joyfully serve Him with our whole hearts; He’s not pleased with half-hearted effort. To half obey is to disobey. A yard that’s half mown still looks tacky. I think the following motto is superb: “Do your best and God will do the rest.” The Great God Jehovah won’t do what you can do, but He will sure do what you can’t do.

Before I hop on the mower, I always check the fuel gauge. Believers need to do a fuel check every day. Spending time with God, reading His Word, and communing with Him in prayer is what fills our spiritual gas tank which then enables us to do whatever comes our way that day. “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]” (Philippians 4:13 AMP). This amazing strength is inside believers and goes to work when the task before us is difficult. The time spent in filling the tank is never wasted because it enables us to reach way down within ourselves when the mowing gets tough. When life hands you an acre of tall grass, just mow at a slower speed, keep it at full throttle, and don’t stop until it’s finished.

The Key: Stay at full throttle, do your best, and you’ll finish your task.

My husband’s mother, Phyllis, worked for decades as the office manager of a car dealership.  Buyers dealt with her when they purchased a vehicle.  One day, a man sat down at Phyllis’s desk to finalize the details of his purchase.  Phyllis noted that his last name was “LaRoche.”

“LaRoche?  Seems like I’ve heard that name before,” she chuckled.

“Do you follow baseball?” he answered.

“I do.”

“Well then, that’s probably it.  My brother Dave is a pitcher for the Angels.”

Dave’s mom started laughing.  “You could have fooled me.  I’m Phyllis LaRoche.  I’m Dave’s mother.”

Some people will do anything to be recognized or valued, a theme repeated in my upcoming book.  If you’ve ever stretched the truth to appear qualified, needed, or superior, you know what this is like.

In the New Testament, we read that Barnabas had sold his property and presented the disciples with the money he made from the sale.  We can imagine the accolades and high-fives given to Barnabas for his generosity.

The married couple Ananias and Sapphira wanted in on the praise.  They too sold their land but kept back some of the profit for themselves.  There’s nothing wrong with that, except they lied to the disciples and said that they gave it all, a lie that cost them their lives.

God doesn’t want big-shots; He wants people of humility.  In The Best of Lee Strobel’s “Investigating Faith,” he writes this: “Humility involves an appropriate acknowledgment and realistic assessment of oneself. If you’re a skilled piano player, you don’t say, ‘I’m no good on the piano.’ That’s being out of touch with reality. On the other hand, the pianist should recognize that this talent is a gift he’s received from God.”

“John,” an American atheist who owned at our condominium complex in Mexico, showed up one year with long hair and a story about how he, in a few months, would lead an orchestra in his hometown in the United States.  Impressive, right?  Everyone was talking about his conductor opportunity.  I ran into John one day and congratulated him on being selected for his upcoming debut.  He began demonstrating his “a-one-and-a-two-and-a” pretend-baton movement while shaking his long hair from side to side.  He definitely was into his new role.

A few days later, his wife and I were chatting.  I asked if she was impressed that her husband had been chosen to conduct an orchestra.  She seemed surprised.  “He wasn’t chosen.  He won it in an auction.  He just outbid the other bidders.”  A small detail John failed to share.

One of my favorite quotes on humility comes from Pastor Rick Warren.  “Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less…”  No one knew this better than Jesus.  After Jesus fasted for 40 days, Satan appeared to him and gave him three chances to exalt himself: change stones into bread so he could eat; throw himself down from a high building and be saved by his angels; or worship him (Satan) and be given all the world’s kingdoms.

Jesus wasn’t about to do any of those things.  His purpose was to show others the way to Heaven, not to call attention to himself.  One demonstrates humility, the other, pride.

Dear Lord, let me remember that in everything I say and do.