You've probably heard this humorous little story, but it is worth another hearing!

Sometimes we just have to do things!

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son."Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!""But why, Mom? I don't want to go.""Give me two reasons why you don't want to go.""Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!""Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready.""Give me two reasons why I should go to school.""Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the principal!"

Sometimes we just have to do things even when we don't feel like doing them! It's called responsibility, faithfulness, and having a sense of duty.

I think, perhaps, that the concept of duty has taken some abuse in our churches in modern times. We sometimes talk about the importance of doing things for God "because we want to, not because we have to." And I would wholeheartedly agree with that focus. However, if we only serve God when we really "feel" like it, our service would be minimal and our commitment to honor him would be shallow. Sometimes the feelings aren't there, but we need to continue to serve knowing that it is the "right" thing to do.

[Jesus asked] "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'? But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'" (Luke 17:7-10)