8 November | Youth
«Do you think I am trying to get the favor of men, or of God?» Galatians 1:10, NLV
It is said that a certain king received a guest and decided to show him the palace gardens. The man was delighted with the first garden. It was impressive! The king then led him to the second. It was even more beautiful. The visitor was taken to the third, the most magnificent and which surpassed all the others. “I don’t understand,” he commented, disconcerted. “Why three gardens? And why does the third stand out?” Satisfied, the king replied: “Those who take care of the first garden are my slaves. They work day and night to get it in good condition. The second is maintained by salaried workers, which is why it is even more beautiful than the first.” Curious, the visitor asked: “Who, then, takes care of the third one?” The king replied: “Volunteers, people whom I forgave for crimes they had committed. Out of gratitude, they cultivate it and keep it always fresh and beautiful.”
Just like the king's slaves, some people do what they do because they feel obligated. They are hostages of circumstances and are subject to discouraging conditions. They act automatically, with no interest in giving their best. Others, however, feel free and do what is expected; nothing more than that. They respect the rules and try to behave well, but they act this way for pure convenience, that is, aiming for the immediate rewards they will receive.
Finally, those who work in the third garden, spontaneously, represent people who decide to act based on gratitude. They don't stay in theory. They are not afraid to expose themselves. They spare no effort. They forget their own ego and go beyond: they practice the same generosity with which they were blessed.
As you deal with today's challenges, remember that what moves you to act must flow from the deepest convictions nurtured in God's Word. Everything else is secondary, including the fear of punishment and the desire to get along. Especially when working in the cause of the Lord, look within yourself and ask what your main motivations are. Establish your priorities. Put everything in its proper place, using Heaven's criteria, because, sooner or later, the motives of your heart will be revealed by circumstances or God Himself will make them public.