Why Try

Ok, I admit it. Sometimes I ask myself why I’m giving 100% effort when I know the results won’t matter or the recipient won’t care or there’s no way I’ll ever have an impact. If my work isn’t going to deliver results, why do I bust my butt anyway?

Let’s say I’m working on a project and half the team has already decided we can’t win so they’re not really trying. To get the project to the finish line someone is going to have to decide to pick up the slack and do extra work or to just join the rest of the team and let the project languish in mediocrity. What about football? If you know your efforts aren’t going to change the coach’s mind or if your teammates aren’t pulling their weight, why get beat up on the field? Why not just go through the motions and get the game over with? Or in the hospital, if the patient refuses to take care of himself when he’s not being coddled by nurses or doctors, why keep pushing for him to see how much better he can be?

I mean, this blog is about a Christian world view and didn’t Jesus himself tell us not to throw our pearls to swine? If we know the cause is lost, yet we still try, isn’t that throwing away our pearls? Shouldn’t we focus our efforts for the best return and not waste what God has given us?

The difference between intrinsic or extrinsic motivators is a major influence on how someone reacts to a challenge. Me – I’m intrinsically motivated – always have been. My reasoning for action is internal and defined by my own moral and ethical code. But that doesn’t mean I’m right or better than someone who relies on accolades or avoiding negative consequences for action – just different.

Christ was clear in his motivation – do your best, always, like you’re working for God Himself. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” So whatever your motivation, whether it’s to get the raise or the trophy or just so you can sleep well at night knowing you were true to yourself, give your best effort as if God was your boss, your coach, your patient, or your master. You may never see the actual benefit of your efforts, but you will know that your sacrifice or offering was given with a right heart...

…and that is why I try.