Faith Thoughts

Today we look at a third inspirational set of words of wisdom from George McDonald. “It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity.”

In a similar way Oswald Chambers asks a question  in his book ‘The Utmost for the Highest’ where he says, “Are you seeking great things for yourself, instead of seeking to be a great person? God wants you to be in a much closer relationship with Himself than simply receiving His gifts—He wants you to get to know Him. Even some large thing we want is only incidental; it comes and it goes. But God never gives us anything incidental. There is nothing easier than getting into the right relationship with God, unless it is not God you seek, but only what He can give you.”

However, a story is told of a  ceramics teacher announced that he was dividing the class into two groups.

All those on the left side of the studio he would grade solely on the quantity of work they produced, all those on the right solely on its quality.

His procedure was simple: on the final day of class he would bring in his bathroom scales and weigh the work of the “quantity” group: 50 pounds of pots rated an “A”, 40 pounds a “B”, and so on.

Those being graded on “quality”, however, needed to produce only one pot — albeit a perfect one — to get an “A”.

Long came grading time and a curious fact emerged: the works of highest quality were all produced by the group being graded for quantity.

It seems that while the “quantity” group was busily churning out piles of work-and learning from their mistakes — the “quality” group had sat theorising about perfection, and in the end had little more to show for their efforts than grandiose theories and a pile of dead clay.

Paul writing to Colossians 3:17 said Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God’s praises with joyful hearts. And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.

You are the God of abundance and You offer Yourself freely to us. Renew my faith and joy in my daily tasks, knowing Your presence is there with me, ministering to my heart. You are never far, Lord. Realign my heart to walk with you each moment, drawing on the strength that you give. Thank you, Lord, for your promises and for fresh grace today. Thank you for Jesus.

Amen.