World of difference between those 2. Granted, a ‘have to’ can become a ‘get to’ but I don’t think it works in the reverse… it would take all the joy out of being a ‘get to’. The points are: 1. we can choose which will be our attitude, in both states and 2. how we will respond, react, express this. Our attitude is really the determiner, even in what appears to be a positive. Now the question – when you read scripture how do you respond to what is a ‘have’ and what is a ‘get’?
When you look at your ‘to do’ list and schedule and all the things that are on your plate… when you consider their priority in the day – how many of the ‘things’ are ‘have tp’ and how many are ‘get to’? Let’s face it, we all have ‘haves’ but the ‘haves’ don’t need to be heavy or burdensome and believe or not… they can be enhance too. Let me provide a simple example. One of my ‘haves’ is doing the clothes wash – a least favorite, low priority but high need activity. Part of my dislike is based in the fact that it is time controlling – you just can’t throw in the wash and then leave it. The cycle doesn’t last long. Confining is not a condition I pursue. So… if it’s a ‘have’ how can I enhance it? That’s the challenge. Then again… what’s your attitude about challenges? For me it’s a plus.
I suspect the initial action we should take is determining if something we see is a ‘have’. is really a have or only something we need to attend to at some date? Is it immediate? If it’s immediate then that answers the point. I’ve discovered, to my pain and annoyance, that if I ignore immediate-s I will reap what I sow. However, how immediate is the task? Where is the priority? And do I look at all my immediate-s and other haves and place them logically. One thing I have done is to make a list. I take great joy in ticking off those things. Simple. Yes. But immensely satisfying. You need to find your act of accomplishment.
Obviously, it is our ‘get tos’ that are our greatest enjoyments. So another thing I’ve done for me is to strategically place a get to in the midst of the have tos. It’s a kind of reward. Childish? Probably, but if it works – don’t knock it! When you look at the 2 lists – which has the most? Probably the haves. Not the point. If you never take a break from the haves, you’ll never find time for the gets – unless all you do is avoid the haves.
When it comes to haves and gets in spiritual matters, I’ve discovered that the gets far out number the haves. There aren’t that many haves but those that are do involved a complete commitment and not a cavalier attitude toward. Have you ever taken the time and written down for yourself all that we are commanded to do and be? Personally, I believe that it all begins in an attitude of Love and is demonstrated in our acts of Love. Love is the foundation and reason for the haves as well as our response to them. Sorta blends haves and gets…
Crossways https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-obligations-christians-have-to-scripture/ (by John McArthur): [based in Obey the Word]
1. Receive, 2. Pray, 3. Feed, 4. Obey, 5. Honor, 6. Study, 7. Preach/Teach,
8. Compel, 9. Disciple, 10. Tremble
Whether or not you agree with this particular reference, you do need to know how you define in word as well as deed, your ‘have tos’ and your ‘get tos’.When it is our ‘have to’ related to scripture, it’s the definitions of those words that make all the difference. Always define words by The Word. And DO discover if your definitions are scriptural… you could have a ‘have to’ that really is a ‘get to’.
