ICS Daily Devotions
Performance Trap
Luke 15:21, 28-30 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son [I no longer deserve to be recognized as a son of yours]! … 28 But [the elder brother] was angry [with deep-seated wrath] and resolved not to go in. Then his father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; 30 But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
In many cultures today, we demand recognition and often measure our significance by our accomplishments. It is good to feel proud of our achievements, however, it is the constant seeking of approval from men that will put tremendous pressure on us to do well. There is nothing wrong with it until these accomplishments become our identity and we demand acknowledgement whenever we do something.
This attitude can subconsciously be brought before God as a self-righteous attitude: “We deserve to be blessed because we have done all these!” It is a performance trap!
Is it possible for someone to say: “I have never disobeyed your command and I have served you?” This is exactly what the elder son said to the Father. The elder son expected the Father to bless him based on his effort of obedience and his act of service. He thinks that he deserves to be blessed because of what he has done!
He doesn’t have a relationship with the Father and he feels that he is more deserving as compared to the other son; he refuses to acknowledge the prodigal son as his brother. He doesn’t address his Father as father! He is self-righteous and legalistic.
Can you imagine the eldest son standing before the father with the family’s ring on his finger, clothes provided by the family and having a pair of sandals on his feet? He is not a slave but is the eldest son in the family. Yet, he is angry and complaining to the father for not loving him?
People who are self-righteous and legalistic always exhibit certain characteristics. Among the many, they exhibit periods of great highs and lows based upon their performance. When they are high in their performance they expect God to bless them. In their lows, they think that God is going to punish them with all kinds of evil thinking that God looks at them based on their performance rather than seeing themselves in Christ. They are frustrated with trying to become more holy, contentious, condemnatory towards others who don’t do as they do. They have a lack of patience with others growing in holiness, and usually like to control others.
It’s easier for a sinner to realize he is a sinner just like the younger brother than for the elder brother who is a legalist to realize that he is a legalist. If we can’t identify what legalism is, it can keep us in bondage.
The most widespread form of legality in the Christian church is the flesh, trying to do something to gain acceptance before God. How are your thoughts regarding how God looks at you? Is it through your performance or IN CHRIST?
Sermon Series: Receiving God’s Love and Blessings
