I have always hated doing things twice. I don’t mean repetitive necessary functions like grocery shopping, voting or visiting the restroom (those last two may be redundant). I mean having to “do over” something that has already been done.
While working on the main project house I had wired some very nice light fixtures in each bathroom, only to find later that in a previous repair, the wiring in the walls had been done incorrectly. So off come the fixtures, the repair is made, new hardware installed and then the fixtures put back up. An hour later, I realized I had accidentally put the light fixtures in the wrong rooms; the one upstairs I put downstairs and vice versa. Again, off come the fixtures, off come the installation hardware, fixtures reinstalled in the correct rooms.
I hate doing the same thing twice.
In business and manufacturing work like this is sometimes referred to as “non-value added” work. It’s work that is necessary, but doesn’t really add to the overall value of the finished project. Say for instance, you work at Baskin Robbins making the world happy and fat. You make an ice cream cone and sell it. Your specific work makes money. But when you sweep up, or restock napkins, or clean the bathroom/voting booth, those tasks are important, but don’t “pay for themselves” the way selling your product does. It’s work, but doesn’t add value.
Paul seems to understand the concept of non-value added work. In 1 Corinthians 13 (1-3) he explains that if I am doing all manner of spiritual work, but I don’t really outwardly, openly, love people (unconditionally) then my work adds no real value. It’s empty. If I understand all the mysteries of God, am filled with wisdom and truth, but it’s not based and EXPRESSED in love, then what I do is meaningless. (*The word for love in this chapter is AGAPE’, meaning moe than a warm affection, but an active, self-sacrificing love).
I’m being reminded that faith without (unconditional) love is of no real value. It is performance-oriented living, rather than living out of real love for people. Though I may think I love someone, it doesn't mean they would agree. They might see my "love" as nothing more than a clanging gong, or a smelly voting booth.
