I’m Not God, So Stop Acting Like It!

In reading Ecclesiastes 10:15 I find,  “Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work.” (GNT)

I’m not God. I don’t have all the answers. I can’t do everything. As I struggle to find balance in life, those three admissions can transform everything.

The Bible says, “Only someone too stupid to find his way home would wear himself out with work” (Ecclesiastes 10:15 GNT).

It’s foolish to wear myself out with work. When I overwork, I’m playing God. It’s a way of saying that it all depends on me, that everything will crash down if I don’t keep the world spinning.

Well it's not true! I’m not the general manager of the universe. The universe will not fall apart if I take time to rest, if I take time to balance my life. God has it under control.

Often I do this to myself because I’m trying to please everyone. Learn this lesson: I can’t please everyone. Even God can’t please everyone! One person wants it to rain. Another one wants it to be sunny. It’s absurd to try doing what even God can’t do.

When I live for the expectations of others, I pile a ton of “shoulds” on my shoulders. I may think, “I should work more hours,” or “I should volunteer for this project.” But realize this: No one is forcing me to do those things. Overworking is a choice. I choose to take on the extra work or not to take it on. And I choose the consequences that come with my choice.

When you deny your humanity and try to do it all, I’m robbing God of his glory. The Bible declares this in 2 Corinthians 4:7: “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (NIV).

Paul reminds me that we’re human beings, feeble and fragile. Jars of clay break easily. If you drop them, they shatter. Clay pots have to be handled appropriately and with care. If not, they’ll be destroyed.

But the good news is that through my feebleness, the power and glory of God shine through. My humanity isn’t something to hide. Instead, I can celebrate the power of God working through my limitations.

In summary, it’s stupid for me to wear myself out with work. It’s time for me to realize that I’m not God, I don’t have all the answers, and I can’t do everything. Admitting these things can transform everything. I’m reminded that when I overwork, I’m playing God. It’s a way of me thinking or saying that it all depends on me, and that everything will crash down if I don’t keep the world spinning. It's not true! I’m not the general manager of the universe. The universe will not fall apart if I take time to rest. God has it under control. I can’t please everyone. Even God can’t please everyone!  When I live for the expectations of others, I pile a ton of “shoulds” on my shoulders. No one is forcing me to do those things. Overworking is a choice. I choose to take on the extra work or not. And I choose the consequences that come with my choice. When I try to do it all, I’m robbing God of his glory.Through my feebleness, the power and glory of God shine through. I can celebrate the power of God working through my limitations.

I find myself overworking because I feel the pressure of things needing to be done and correctly. I also overwork because there are things that have not been done that are needed to move forward. There is also a tremendous demand to do a lot of things in a little bit of time. I never really considered that by overworking that I was robbing God of his glory, perhaps for my own. 

I pray this morning Father, for a calmer day, where I can not be so sidetracked in other things that are not my responsibility so that I can do the things that were assigned to me. I ask you to help me think clearly and put together action plans that address what is needed. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and for my future work situations. Please help me to respond rightly to people and to be of assistance. I pray these things through your Son Jesus’ name, amen.