Adverbs

People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

(I Samuel 16:7. NLT).

An old Puritan proverb says “God loveth adverbs.” At first glance, the words sound quaint, abstract, even silly.  But looking deeper, one discovers that this short phrase is pregnant with the kind of wisdom that can help contemporary Christians remember something important they seem to have forgotten.    

An adverb, in simplest terms, is a word that modifies a verb.  In other words, adverbs describe how an action is done.  Often ending in -ly, they move our attention from what is happening to the manner in which it is done.  “Tim hugged his sister” tells us what happened.  “Tim hugged his sister reluctantly” gives us some very important information about the nature of that hug!      

In spiritual terms, we can see the importance of adverbs when we think about the popular acronym WWJD from a few years ago.  “What would Jesus do” orients us to the importance of imitating the behaviors of Jesus, but it tends to overlook the issue of how and why those behaviors were done.  The sad truth is that any zealous Pharisee can imitate religious behaviors.  It takes a transformed heart, however, to perform those actions in the right way. 

To do the right thing in the wrong way is not to do the right thing.  In saying “God loveth adverbs” our Puritan forefathers were reminding us that God cares as much about how we do things as that we do them!  In other words God is not just interested in the verbs that characterize our discipleship (pray, obey, witness, worship, etc.).  He is preeminently interested in the adverbs that describe how those verbs are carried out.

Let me introduce you to four adverbs God loveth.  I admit that my choice is somewhat subjective but I do believe that these four adverbs get at the heart of how we are meant to live out our Christian discipleship.  

Heartily.  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Col. 3:23).  

In the Greek, the word “heartily” literally means “from the soul”.  How easy it is to go through our daily routines mindlessly, dutifully, half-heartedly, as if we were on auto-pilot.  The Lord wants us to do all our work enthusiastically, zealously, eagerly, earnestly, passionately, and with gusto!  If we find this to be impossible, it probably means we need a new heart.   

Lovingly.  Let all that you do be done in love (I Cor. 16:14).  

When I am filled with agape-love, I walk through my day with a disposition that is other-oriented, enabling me to be constantly focused on the needs of those around me, ready to help whenever I can.  My greatest joy will come when I’m able to help others through their day!  

Selflessly.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Phil. 2:3. NIV).  

It’s not about me!  Humility is not thinking badly about myself but not thinking of myself at all!  But never forget the promise of the gospel:  when I lose myself in service to Christ and to others, then, and I am finally able to find myself (see Lk. 9:23-24).

Contentedly.  I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content (Phil. 4:11). 

Jeremiah Burroughs (1599-1646) famously defined Christian contentment as “that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”^[1]  Contentment comes not by obtaining our desires but by sanctifying them!  Even as he sat in a Roman prison awaiting probable execution, Paul was able to testify to the reality of such contentment because “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). 

Dear friend, as you face your day today, let me humbly remind you (note the adverb!) that to do the right thing in the wrong way is to do the wrong thing.  Whether you are brushing your teeth, preparing a meal, changing a diaper, driving a car, checking your email, or preaching a sermon, let me encourage you to pause and check your adverbs.  Are you doing this mindlessly? begrudgingly? angrily?  Self-servingly?  resentfully?  In whatever you do today, let me encourage you to stop and pray: “Holy Spirit, fill me now so that I can do this activity in the right way.  Empower me to do it heartily, lovingly, selfless, and contentedly. In the powerful name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.” 

Adverbs are more important than you think! 

  Jeremiah Burroughs.  The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.  (The Banner of Truth Trust. 1964). p. 19.

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