Push the Boulder

Faithfulness when the work never seems to finish · ASV

A lesson on faithfulness

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The Greeks told of a man named Sisyphus, condemned to roll a great boulder up a hill. Every time it came near the top, it slipped from him and rolled back to the bottom, and he had to walk down and begin again. For ever.

The point of the story was that his work could never be finished — and so it could never mean anything.

“Do I really have to teach this class?”

“Why should I be the one to talk to my neighbor?”

“I've invited them before. They aren't interested.”

“Someone else would be better at this.”

“I have enough going on already.”

“The world hates this message. What difference will I make?”

1. Is the boulder worth pushing?

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.

looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What the boulder looks like for us

• Teaching children who may one day walk away
• A Bible class where only a handful come
• Serving as a deacon in work no one notices
• Serving as an elder when hard decisions must be made
• Raising children in a world pulling them the other way
• Encouraging someone who keeps falling back

The boulder rolling back doesn’t mean the pushing was pointless.

2. What if pushing doesn’t accomplish anything?

I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Not “well done, successful servant.” Faithful.

3. What if I’m not strong enough?

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak.

And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.

We have spent the whole story looking at the man pushing. We've never looked down the hill.

There are people there — new Christians, children, the struggling, the lost, the ones who haven't heard.

They are not strong enough to stop that boulder if it comes back down.

But you are standing there. You have the ability to push.

Imagine we decide it isn't worth it. We're tired, nobody listens, someone else should do this.

We step aside and let go.

That is what letting go costs. Not just our own effort, wasted — them.

Now go back. The people at the bottom of the hill are still standing. The boulder hasn't fallen. It is right where it was: in front of you, with your hands on it.

That ending hasn't happened, and it doesn't have to.

Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.

Before any of us put our hands on a boulder, we were the ones at the bottom of the hill — and Someone stood under the weight in our place.

We push because Someone first pushed for us.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.

And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

What boulder is in front of you?

• Teaching
• Serving
• Accepting a leadership role
• Talking to a neighbor, a friend, a family member
• Encouraging someone who desperately needs it
• Being the Christian your family needs to see

We plant. We water. We warn. We teach. We encourage. We serve. We push. And God gives the increase.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

I don’t have to move the whole mountain.

I don’t have to be the strongest person.

I don’t have to guarantee the outcome.

I just have to push the boulder that is in front of me.

Because if I let it go — who is at the bottom of the hill?

And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Some of us are still at the bottom of the hill: Jesus has already carried the weight you could not hold, and He calls you to come to Him.

Some of us are Christians whose arms have grown heavy: you don't have to push alone. Let your brethren hold up your hands.

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