In C.S. Lewis’s novel Perelandra, one of the angels says that humans are both “infinitely necessary and infinitely superfluous in God’s eyes,” reflecting the paradox of humanity’s need to be active and to rest.
On the one hand, we are called and created to be active alongside God, to be the hands and feet of Christ on earth and to work out the passions and frustrations we have. To respond, to love others and love God, to be moved by anothers’ suffering and by our own joys is to be human – its necessary. On the other hand, we alone cannot really do anything. We are part of a larger picture that is dependent not on us fixing or saving the world but on God’s work and activity. To think that we can never break from , or rest from that work, or that it is up to us to get it all right or help everyone or minister to everyone, is faulty. God is fully able to accomplish his work without us – although our work is necessary and part of our call.
This paradox is one I wrestle with and find great joy in – thanks Clive Staples!
As you know I am a huge fan of both-and types of statments and this is another great one. And I think that I have felt both infinately necessary and infinately superfluous in God’s eyes and my own eyes and eyes of others in the same moment. Wonder if further refelction could be written about these in tendem with other dualisms that feel similar to me like pride and self-hatred; self love and humility; God choosing to use us as tools and God being able do anything with out us; Us being so valuable we were died for and sought out as a lost sheep AND us being just one of the many 99 sheep hangin’ out; . . . .
There was an interesting article in USA Today on Sunday, in which the former CEO of Domino’s says he is now more interested “in helping people get to heaven” than he is about making money . The article jumped into my mind when reading your title, but after reading the text of your entry it’s not so related. On the other hand, you and I both have chosen careers that we believe will help God’s children and that we’re passionate about. Given that fact, it’s not necessarily bad to be a workaholic if the things you work on glorify God and energize you without taking away from family and friends. There’s something to be said for balance.
Thanks for this, Liz. I know that this has been on both our minds a lot lately. It’s wonderfully refreshing to realize that God can accomplish things through me, but He can do it without me as well.:0) A great reflection to read on this Monday morning after a week out of the office.