Walking with the Wise #255: Our Need for Approval

“A worker's appetite works for him;
his mouth urges him on.”
—Proverbs 16:26

What motivates you to work? Besides the need to make money, what motivates you? What motivates you to do your best? Is it not the desire for approval? Our “appetite” here is not referring to our physical appetite, but our “appetite” for approval. We long to hear words of encouragement and blessing. As Christians, are we not motivated by the desire to hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? We hunger for His blessing and approval—God has wired us for it. We hunger to know that we have done and accomplished what God desired us to do. We may not have seen the fruit we have liked, but we marched on in faith, claiming the promise,  

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”—Galatians 6:9.

There are going to be days that we want to give up. There are going to be days when we want to quit and when we pray, along with Christ,

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”—Matthew 26:39.

While we may want to leave or quit the task we have before us, but like our Lord, we cannot. We submit to His will, knowing that He will give us the strength needed to accomplish the task that is set before us (cf. Philippians 4:13). And we know that, at the end of life, when our last step in time lifts us into eternity, we will hear the words we have longed for, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Amen.