I once heard a story about a man who brought his lunch from home to work, and every time he opened his bag, he complained very loudly about how tired he was of those sandwiches and wondered when this monotonous nightmare of such tasteless food would end. His coworkers suggested that he ask his wife to prepare something different, to which he replied that he had no wife and prepared his own food.
How often I resemble this strange man, thinking that I can do something carelessly and that it should somehow become something wonderful and beautiful on its own. But there are laws that operate according to the situation.
I was created and designed by God in such a way that I can live autonomously and independently make decisions about how I will live, what I will eat, what I will watch and listen to, whom I will befriend, and whom I will love. Until a certain age, my parents decide these things, teaching me good habits, but at some point I begin to choose my own path and bear responsibility for my actions. And I understand that life is very complex and holds many tasks and adventures that must be dealt with and experienced.
My outlook on life and the one with whom I travel my path very often determine what this life will be like.
I remember that I decided to become strong and to become a champion in something, but I did not have enough strength to carry out my desire, and I abandoned the idea. Then I began training on my own, constantly increasing the load. And I was surprised by the results I achieved. A very useful law was revealed to me, one that helps me to this day. It goes like this: ‘The one who leaves the race will never win. The one who remains in it will never lose.’ And this rule proved relevant in the spiritual life as well. It helped me greatly.
I decided to try myself in another field and saw the same principle at work.
Every sphere of life has its own laws, which are as old as this world and operate in the same way for everyone.
For example, if I want to become wealthy, a high salary will not help me; the laws of wealth, which I begin to study and observe, will help me. Knowledge of these laws and the ability to apply them form in me the mindset of a prosperous person. And whatever crisis I may experience, these laws will show me how I can emerge from it or use it to my advantage. Even if I am left with nothing, I know how to resolve this matter and acquire new wealth. I am surrounded by thieves and various plunderers who can rob me, but they cannot take away my knowledge and experience, and, if necessary, I will be able to correct many things. But the accumulation of capital does not save me or bring happiness, so I discover other laws for myself.
At some point in my life, I decided to become happy, but I did not understand what was needed for this, although I had always been interested in this question and sought an answer from God. And the Lord began to teach me this and revealed to me the wonderful laws of a happy life, which began to work in me as I learned and applied them. Later I will share them with you. This, too, is planned as part of our studies.
Happiness exists, and it follows definite laws. It is the result of obedience and the fulfillment of rules that I sometimes do not know. This is a very profound science that comes from Biblical teaching and is very important in the last days. And in addressing Laodicea, the Lord reproaches His people for being miserable and not even knowing it. But there is a way out, and God gives it to us by offering something very important and useful.
If I want to live eternally, I can attain this, but not by my own strength. I need knowledge of this science, and as I discover its laws, I can consciously apply them in my life, receiving the result of my discoveries by practicing this in my heart. But in this science I encounter the fact that Eternal life has a Source, Whom I must come to know personally, and this Source is three living Persons by the Name of God, Who desire to have a relationship with me, to teach me to live rightly, to obey what will be revealed to me, to make an effort, and to study what is necessary for me. And while my own strength and decisions were sufficient for mastering other disciplines, in the science of Salvation I need strength from above. And it is given by God’s mercy and begins to work in me. Its name is love. It unites my mind, will, and intellect and creates in me the mindset of a righteous person. Under the influence of love, I comprehend the laws of Eternal life and begin to live by them.
To do good, one must be good; to love one’s neighbor, one must have love; to be friendly, one must understand the laws of friendship; and to become happy, one must know what happiness is and how it works. And all of this comes from the God of love, Who, by His mercy, gives it abundantly for eternal use.
God has enough strength to produce within me everything that pleases Him. But I must put the sandwiches into the bag myself. And here a dilemma arises. There is strength, and there is a will, but there is no willpower. What should I do? There are laws of priority that operate according to the positions assigned in accordance with them. First, I do what is my priority, then what is necessary, and finally what is greatly needed but is not as joyful and important. And this is a problem with my thinking. And very often my cleverness brings me much grief. My knowledge sometimes conflicts within itself and discourages me if I do not know how to put it into practice properly.
But there is a very useful rule: I make promises or enter into a covenant that obligates me to do what is necessary, even if at first I do not desire to do it. One such commitment is starting a family. I did not need this, although I understood that it was better. But after meeting the woman I loved, I decided to bind myself with a promise to care for her and asked for my parents’ and God’s blessing upon it. And I learned many good things that I would never have done alone.
Then I took upon myself the responsibility of being a father. At first it was unfamiliar, but later I became accustomed to it and live in this role. My daughter has grown up and has her own family, but I still remain her father.
I also decided to enter into a covenant with God and asked Him to become the Lord of my life. I bound myself with many promises and do not regret this covenant in the least. There were many things I did not desire and could not do, and I did not even know what needed to be done, but now I live in them and cannot imagine anything else.
Then I pleaded with God for love and began using it to bind myself to other people. I was afraid of the consequences, for I might not endure and might grow weak. But the Lord grants this strength and gives even more than is requested and needed.
And then I decided to share my knowledge about love, thereby binding myself even more. And even when the body grows tired and does not want to do anything, the mind and will prevail and carry out what is needed. And God sends strength from above and inspires the one who is walking. The Lord does not show me what will be at the end, but teaches me to rely on Him by faith, taking the next small step of trust while awaiting the next revelation in order to pass it on to other people.
With what other good thing could I bind myself? I need to promise something to someone and then ask for the wisdom, strength, and means to fulfill it. But it is better not to promise what I will not fulfill. Yet how can I fulfill what I have not promised? Only through love.
Homework 190
What did you like about this lesson? How do you understand the expression ‘willpower,’ and how is it applicable in the Christian life? Do you have days when you become discouraged and do not feel like doing anything? What do you do in such cases? Is it worth binding yourself with commitments in advance? Might it be easier to live a quiet life while having faith in your heart? Is there strength and meaning in a promise? Is it worth making promises? What role does God play in my spiritual commitments? Is it possible to follow Christ without taking upon yourself the burden of commitments? Does God give us promises, binding Himself by them? Please read Isaiah 40:29–31; Deuteronomy 8:17–18; 23:23; Psalm 46:2; 62:12; Ecclesiastes 5:3–4; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 John 2:25; Philippians 2:13–14; Romans 12:1–2; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; 1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 1:3–10; Ephesians 3:10; James 1:17 in the light of our lesson.