“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything"—but not everything is constructive.” - 1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)
Constantly being reminded to slow down, friggin rest and that I am not immortal. ⚡️That God has never told me to grind this hard, rather to leave all of it to Him. So why am I doing all of it?! 😬🤣
I tend to fill my calendar and keep myself busy. Time management isnt the problem, saying no to a lot of engagements is. Here’s what the hustling and grinding cost me so far: I have never, in my entire existence, been taken to the ER thrice in less than two weeks. 🤣 Although I’d like to make light of the situation, my body seems to be telling me otherwise. I highly discourage anyone from following this path. Just… don’t.
Grit and hustle culture often says: You have another hour? Work. You have another opportunity? Take it. You can handle another client? Say yes. You could make more money? Push harder.
But Paul, through 1 Corinthians 10:23, gives us another filter: Is it beneficial? Is it constructive? Had to ask myself over and over and pray about it a lot of times.
That distinction matters because hard work itself is biblical. Scripture praises diligence (Proverbs 14:23; Colossians 3:23). Paul himself worked extremely hard. So the Christian alternative to hustle culture isn’t laziness. It’s purposeful work with limits.
I was led to believe that every minute of my life had to be monetized, that my every day had to be productive. But since coming to know the heart of God, I started changing my questions from, “How much can I accomplish?” to “What kind of life glorifies God?”
Wow. Character development. 😌 Haha!
Sometimes taking another opportunity does. Sometimes saying no, sleeping, recovering, being present with your child, worshipping, or simply accepting that you’re a finite human being does too.
Especially when grit starts becoming “I need to prove myself / earn more / accomplish more / never stop because otherwise I’m falling behind,” 1 Corinthians 10:23 is a useful correction:
Possible ≠ beneficial.
Profitable ≠ constructive.
Productive ≠ necessarily faithful.
Because maybe faith isn’t proving to God how much I can carry. Maybe faith is finally putting it down and trusting that He can carry what I can’t.
So, no football for 3 months. Eat on time. Eat healthy. Dont skip meals. Sleep 8hrs/day. The basics. But 3 ER visits, xrays, fractures, crutches, ECGs, and, needles later, my deeper conviction is:
I don’t need to hustle like it all depends on me.
Where I can’t, God can.
When I can’t, God can.
What I can’t, God can.
God can. God will. 🕊️
PS yes andun po si Romualdez. Pero wala sya sa ER. 😌
History:
Day 0: Sept 1, football game accident
Day 1: Sept 2, accident site still not ok, ER
Day 5: Couldnt breathe, cause: GERD 🤯
Day 10: Fever and colds, possibly because laging nauulanan yawkonaaaa
Day 11: Low BS, I can explain! Sa kagustuhan kong gumaling agad from the fever because Lukas is going to his first football tourney on day 12, I slept it out, took biogesic and FORGOT TO EAT. Wow. 😏🤣
Day 12: .. rest.. sana. HAHAHA!
