Should we cease striving? We learned that when we strive for greatness, we make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. And often, that striving can lead to outcomes that aren’t satisfying. We look for satisfaction in food, a job, money, and countless other things to bring us joy and peace. Yet they do not.
Good striving is when we work for God and store treasures in heaven.
Are there times when we should cease striving and let God be God? And then when and how do we pick up striving again?
Cease Striving and Know that I am God
Are there times when we should cease striving and know God is God? Yes.
When our work has overtaken us, and we need a reset, we need to take a break. Striving for greatness can wait until it is time for recharging. It is important to rest and relax.
There are times when work is stressful, or even life in the world is stressful. Wars are happening in other countries, a gas shortage is cropping up, and inflation is rising.
These are troubling times, and the Psalmist gave us comfort. He said that:
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 ESV
He is our safe place. God will strengthen us and help us to get through the hard times.
And when the hard times are worsening with wars and a struggling economy, we are told not to strive and worry about how it will work out. The Psalmist reminds us to stop striving and rest in who God is. He is the One who reigns over all the earth, so we don’t need to worry. He has it all under control.
Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 46:10 ESV
He can rest in Him while He continues to work behind the scenes. God can handle the small hurdles in your life and the hard troubles you are enduring at work. And He can overcome the gargantuan issues happening in our world.
Because He is God!
Cease Striving: When do we begin striving again?
So as we are ‘being still,’ are we to continue to cease striving and do nothing? Of course not! We need to get up and continue striving for greatness for God.
There may be things going on in the world that we wonder why we should continue working. Signs of the times may indicate that Jesus is returning soon to rapture or snatching away the church before tribulation. But that isn’t a reason to give up and quit working.
It is possible that the people in Thessalonica had a similar thought. Commentators think that the people stopped working because they knew the promise of the Lord’s return. But Paul told them that they should think and do differently.
They were:
to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 ESV
Life and work still need to go on. We can’t give up living life because there are signs of Jesus’ return. We expect Him to come and take us away from the strife and hard life around us.
However, there is still work to do. We need to live quietly by avoiding conflict. Concentrate on our work instead of worrying and putting our nose into the business of others. Work needs to be done and earn a wage instead of lounging around and being dependent on the food of others. And we should act like Christians so that others will want to know more about the God we serve.
Cease Striving: What should we strive for?
Four Reasons to Strive for Greatness
1. Seek God and want to know Him
As Jesus was doing His ministry and walking towards Jerusalem, a person stopped him and asked if there would only be a few people saved. Jesus told the people to,
Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13:24 ESV
We need to strive or make a great effort to seek out God and have salvation in Him so we can spend time in His presence for all eternity.
But why does Jesus say the way is narrow and few will find it? Does that mean only a few people will find God? No. Thousands and thousands of people will come to know the Lord and be in heaven. Many references throughout Scripture speak of thousands coming to faith.
However, many avenues and distractions in this life keep us from following God and Jesus. Even though I have known Christ for 40+ years, I had been seeking satisfaction in my job for many years. How many people look for satisfaction and contentment in things other than God? MANY people do. That is why Jesus said few find it.
Instead of looking for satisfaction in our jobs and other things in the world, we need to strive to know God.
2. Train yourself for godliness
When Paul wrote to Timothy, he talked about later days and how people will be leaving the faith. And so these people will believe other spirits, teachings, or myths.
As Solomon would say, there is nothing new under the sun. These untruthful teachings have been going on since the zodiac, and the study of the stars began at the Tower of Babel. And others are continuing today with New Age teaching, focusing on living for self and other myths about the government being the one to save us from our troubles.
Paul told them not to have anything to do with these false teachings. He told them to “train yourself for godliness” (1 Tim 4:7). Living a godly life has value for today. But the life we have after death on this earth means even more. We should work hard and strive for godliness. Why? Because our hope is in God.
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:10 ESV
3. Excel in Building the Church
Another reason for us to strive is to build up the church. In 1 Corinthians, Paul talked to the believers in Corinth about using all of their spiritual gifts. Each gift is to build up the church. These gifts are meant to increase the church with new believers and make it effective in serving the community and bringing others to Christ.
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
1 Corinthian 14:12 ESV
And building the church doesn’t necessarily mean the physical church. It can mean the universal church of believers. We can share Jesus with others and increase the overall church of believers.
4. Strive for Peace with Everyone
And the last reason to strive is to have peace with all we come in contact with. The reason to do that is so these people can see Jesus in us. If we live a raucous and unholy life, they will think that we are like the people around us. These people won’t see any difference in the life that you are living.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 ESV
Work hard to be at peace with all and live a life that reflects Jesus. You can learn more about the five types of Peace in the Bible. A common saying is, “show Jesus to others and use words, if necessary.” People are watching you and looking to see how you respond to things. Holy living is the right way to live so others can come to Christ and live with God for eternity.
Cease Striving and When striving for Greatness needs to continue
Sometimes we need to cease striving and reset our focus on God. Once we have zeroed in on God, we need to strive for greatness in these four areas: seek God and know Him, train yourself in godliness, excel in building up the church, and strive for peace with everyone.
Don’t give up doing great things for God. There is plenty of striving for God to be done. Pick up your Bible, volunteer at church, and have peaceful conversations about Jesus with others around you at work and in your neighborhood.
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