"He does not care to serve the Good, but to have the advantage of regarding it as a fruit of conquest... He wills that the Good shall triumph through him, that he shall be the instrument, he the chosen one... He cannot, he will not, humbly understand that the Good can get on without him."
In chapter six, "Barriers to Willing One Thing: Egocentric Service to the Good," Kierkegaard addresses the man who wills the Good just so he can add more notch to the belt. This double-minded man reveals his character by his pride and lust for recognition. He is not simply satisfied with participating in the providential will of God in history.
One of the back cover reviews writes, "To read this book with care is to know oneself pursued by 'The Hound of Heaven'." God really has been pursuing me through this book. God has been teaching me and challenging me in innumerable ways through S.K.'s book. This chapter, in particular, has caused me to take stock of my motives in service to God. Would I be satisfied with the role of the servant whose accomplishments aren't recognized this side of eternity? I have to realize that eternity's reward is infinitely better than any earthly recognition or reward. However, to do so requires patience - an immense amount. Impatience leads to desiring the victory of the Good in a temporal and selfish sense - desiring it through self. It fails to realize that "eternally the Good has always been victorious."
In essence, I'm reminded of Dr. Shu's challenge to us. (I don't remember which class.) I do clearly remember him challenging us to think through whether we believe we are here on this earth to intiate or participate. This challenge has honestly been on my mind the last year or so since he gave it. I've certainly come to the conclusion that I'm here to participate: to participate in the infinitely wise and expansive plan of God. However, in the temporal sense, filled with pride and worldly lust, the norm is to initiate. The world looks for leaders who get things done, people who make a difference in the here and now. Initiation is a moment, a constant change at the mercy of public opinion. Participation interacts with the eternal, a patient humility that actively realizes that God's plan is higher than ours.
One of the greatest benefits of this work, I believe, is the deep, soul-searching insights into motivation. What drives my service to God? In his efforts to write this book, he was not simply propogating an individualism that would ultimately morph into what we now know as existentialism; he was inciting believers to view their true selves in light of absolute solitude with God. Oddly enough, not a bad idea.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8
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Speaking of "The Hound of Heaven", the original poem is incredible. I'm attaching the link if you have time to read it. I would recommend it.
http://www.cs.drexel.edu/~gbrandal/Illum_html/hound.html
Thank you so much for reminding us of "initiating or participating." What a foundational principle of ministry in general. We participate in God's work, don't we? We don't start anything or get anything done for God. Reminds me of what Luther said (again, I've been reading the Reformers) that the Reformation he helped start was nothing from him but "all from God." That was his assessment of his own ministry which, from our perspective, initiated a massive shift in theological history and even western civilization. But in fact, Luther participated in what God has been doing since all of time in saving a people for himself.
So thank you for encouraging us!
This reminds me of a message my dad preached when we were in Guyana:
1. God works without us
2. God works in spite of us
3. God works using us
God has been working since Creation. I wonder how he did that without us?! How many times does God work in spite of us, when we sin and screw up? But it is the wisdom of God to use the foolish of the world for his purposes. Yes, that comment from Shu has stuck with me also since that "fateful" class. I remember it more as "to do or to know", though I believe it was the same class. However, as married men, "do" and "know" are both euphemisms for marital intimacy, one ancient and one modern.
Wow, I am so appreciative of Colby's bringing marriage into everything, hahaha. But Colby putting that other phrase in the picture makes me think of this: Shu would go on one or two rants a semester, and those were so important to us. There is a lot we can learn from that fact. Even though we wanted him to just explain everything to us, he usually drew it out of us - and then corrected it and said what he really thought much more eloquently. But still, he demonstrated a humble teacher for us, as did Colin.
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