Are You Only Doing What You Like?

Dear Church Family,


I often hear my children say that they don’t like either their dinner, chores, school work, or sometimes even another person. Tonight at dinner Joshua had to eat some mushrooms. With tears running down his face he looked at me and said, “Daddy, I don’t like mushrooms.” Momma had included them in their dinner for health purposes and so eating them was not an option. I looked at him and said, “Liking things is overrated—just eat them and be done with it.”

Sometimes people, even Christians, don’t like other people because they are different than them, the other person is rude, or for some other reason. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where it tells us to do only the things we like to do or to get along only with the people we like. For example, read 1 Peter 2:13-25 and Ephesians 6:5-8. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). He didn’t say to only obey the ones you like or to only love the people you like. He tells us in Matthew 5:44 to love even our enemies.

When it comes to serving God we must often do things that we don’t like to do. I believe that God puts a desire in us to do the things that He has called us to do (e.g., me being a pastor). We may not “like” many of the things that go along with that calling. The same goes with simply being a Christian. We are not going to always “like” all that goes with that.

We must be disciplined to do the things in life that we should do whether we like them or not. That is what separates mature Christians from baby, carnal Christians. If we never get past doing the things that we like doing we will stay babes our entire lives. Following God often requires some things that are hard on our flesh. He gives us the strength, joy, peace, and spiritual fortitude to press on even when we don’t feel like doing something.

Growing up on my dad’s farm helped me learn to do many things that I didn’t necessarily like doing. I did these things anyway because they needed to be done and I was told to do them. We must take that approach with our spiritual lives.

In 1 Corinthians 9:27 Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” In other words, Paul disciplined himself to do the right things in life, whether he felt like it or not. When we master this truth we will be more fruitful for the kingdom of God and more effective in carrying out His plan.

I challenge you to tell a friend or family member, “Liking things is overrated. Let’s do what we know is the right thing to do without complaining about it!” God bless you as you grow in Christ!



Pastor Jeff