It’s good enough. After long hours of study, reading, and research… After being hunched in a chair over a computer keyboard for what felt like eternity… After losing sleep and gaining a ton of stress… I remember that phrase coming out of my mouth with almost every college paper I wrote. You get to a point where you think: I’ve put enough work into this. Sure, it could be better, and I probably left some things out that should have been included. But it’s going to have to be what it is.
I’m sure you’ve been there. There will always be the things that we will put 110% into. As Americans, we certainly don’t understand the value of rest and sabbath (a Momentum article for another day). However, there are also the times and things where we take on a mindset that 80% is good enough. It can be in our marriages, relationships, our day jobs, yard work, sports, spiritual health and maturity, whatever. It’s not that we don’t care or don’t put in effort. We just leave a little bit in the tank when we punch the clock at the end of the day.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve shared with you the Staff Behaviors which our White Oak staff has embraced over the past couple of years. We felt it was important, as a staff, to articulate the culture that we wanted to build in our offices and in our interactions as well as model behaviors and values which we want to see lived out in our church family. I want to share these with you because I want you to know that we believe a healthy culture in our church will create a conducive environment for us to apprentice under Jesus and to help connect others to full life in Him.
I’ve shared with you: I take Jesus seriously, I am present for the fun things, I help others, and I multiply heroes.
Our next Staff Behavior is I expect more: We work hard. We expect risk. We push each other to high standards and passion for God’s work. We do this with an abundance of grace.
This behavior is modeled amongst our staff because we believe that pushing ourselves to do the very best that we can do is of utmost importance. The mission that Jesus has given to us comes with great urgency. It requires a tremendous trust in His power working in and through us that transcends our own human ability. I expect more is not just a mindset, it’s a posture. We’re always looking as to how we can improve our work, what needs to change, how we can better ourselves as leaders and disciples, and how we can push one another to do the same.
Jesus has this to say to his disciples after their astonished reaction to finding him speaking with a Samaritan woman.
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” -John 4:34-38
We have work to finish! God has done his work. Jesus is alive! The Spirit is moving in and through us. Those who have come before us have paved the way. Now it’s our task to bring in the harvest! This is not about earning points with God or paying penance for sin. This is about disciples responding to the love and transformative grace we have experienced in Jesus. There is a great urgency. We must steward our time, talents, and treasure well. We must be willing to drop it all and run after the ways of Jesus (since the Father has run after us).
In what area of Kingdom labor are you settling for mediocrity? There are people and opportunities and needs all around you that need your attention and care. Do you expect more? I hope so. The harvest is plentiful. Go.
Running right beside you,
Nathan Hinkle
P.S. You’ll want to expect more this season by joining a Life Group. Not only do you need a place for community and development, but there are also people in these groups who need you in their lives! You can find a group by clicking here.
Nathan Hinkle
Lead Pastor
White Oak Christian Church
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