Good Job!

I had the pleasure of babysitting Isaiah Cooper last week. Isaiah is Benjamin and Cindy Cooper's one year old (almost two). Isaiah reminded us of what it was like having a toddler in the house again and how old we are (LOL). He sat at the table with my family and ate dinner, talking in his Isaiah language the whole time.

Isaiah is at the age were children discover what they can do and developing their motor skills. So with great concentration, Isaiah lifted spoonful after spoonful of rice to his mouth. And when he managed to get it there without dropping every grain off the spoon, I cheered "Good job!" Of course, that spurred him on to do the next one right to earn another "good job" from me.

Very cute and appropriate behavior for Isaiah, the one-year old. But how crazy would have been if I would have cheered Brian each time he ate a spoonful of rice? That would have been strange. Brian is supposed to be able to get the food in his mouth without dropping it all over the table. He's in his mid-thirties. If he can't eat by now, I'm afraid.

But unfortunately, that's what exactly what some of us expect when we do what we are supposed to do. You paid your tithes? Good job! You were polite to your co-workers? Good job! You prayed? Good job! You came to Bible study? Good job! You honored your mother and father? Good job! You forgave? Good job!

Yeah, that gets real old real fast.

Luke 17 shows us what our attitude is supposed to be. Verse 10 says,

"So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

No one is going to congratulate you for living right. That's your duty as a Christian. No one is going to throw a party for your obedience. It's what your supposed to do, you unworthy servant you. Do you duty whether you get kudos or not. You are not Isaiah, the one year old.