I recently stayed in an exquisite hotel just up from the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. The room was lavish, the amenities numerous, and the staff friendly, almost ad nauseam.
Among all of the amiable employees, one particular employee stood out—not in a good way. After I expressed gratitude, his response was a disinterested, monotone, “Mmmpleasure.” (My pleasure.)
He had the uniform, the title, and even the wording (sort of), but his heart was clearly not into it. Perhaps he was having a bad day or was distracted. Whatever the case, his service had eroded into a translucent façade.
Most of us know the right words to say and how to dress the part. Nevertheless, if internal motives are misaligned with external actions, the duplicity will eventually be detectible.
Examples of Detectible Duplicity:
- Being “forced” to be kind to someone you particularly dislike, rather than choosing to love them
- Obeying because you have no other options, rather than truly submitting
- Uttering, “Praise the Lord!” but not being genuinely excited about what God is doing in your life
Our attitudes and our actions are a choice that we make, not something dictated by external circumstances. Yet we often fail to unite them. Producing works of righteousness without a heart of righteousness is impossible. When we find ourselves thinking, “I’ll do it, but I don’t have to like it,” we are not wholly committed to God’s plan for our lives.
Can service which is disconnected from the heart ever glorify God? Never. Our service and obedience are to be the fruit of our love for God, not the other way around.
We must align our hearts with His will so He can align our hands for His work.
In doing this, we will be able to serve Him proclaiming: “My Pleasure!”
Where do you find it hardest to make doing God’s will your pleasure?
