Performance Rider

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
(Habakkuk 3:17-18 – ESV)

In the world of entertainment, there is an item known as a performance rider. This is an artist (musician, actor, guest, etc.) giving a set of requests as criteria for performance. In other words, a performance rider is a list of accommodations that must be met in order for the talent to agree to perform at the venue. If the demands cannot be met, the artist will not perform, simple.

We might relate this to some professed believers and their attitude toward God, with regards to going to church or reading their Bible or praying regularly. What some are doing is serving the God of self. They are saying, in effect, “I’ll serve God as long as He serves me”. They go to church when it is “all good”; when God is giving them what they want, they give Him what they think He wants. Let me tell you, He wants none of that trash. You are not the “talent” in this scenario, God is the one who has performed in Christ on your behalf, and now it is your turn to meet His demands, not vice versa. His criterion is a repentant and humble heart.

In the world of sports, there is the phenomenon of “contract negotiation”, where a player bargains with a team for a fee for services to be rendered. The contract calls for so many years of service for so many dollars. The better a player had performed in the past, and the more potential for the future a player has, the more the contract will be for in terms of length and/or money. Interestingly, on today’s scene, players who perform up to the potential that was seen in the negotiating phase, and agreed to by both parties, now they feel as if they are entitled to more.

Again, we can relate this to the “church world” today. When the chips are down, for many they just cash in. But for others who perform at what they feel is a peak level, well, they want God to “sweeten the deal”. But God offers no such incentive to “performance”. What He calls for is endurance, that is the deal we signed up for, and He doesn’t do contract negotiation. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you (1 Peter 4:12 – ESV).

We should rejoice that God doesn’t give us a performance rider, and that He doesn’t do contract negotiation. It isn’t our performance that counts, amen, it is what Christ did for us, and His performance rider was to suffer for the sins of the world on the cross; do you want that? Rejoice, even in troubling times, for God doesn’t look to our performance, and He always comes though on His end of the deal.

Without ignoring the reality of suffering, Habakkuk turned his attention away from it and fixed his gaze upon the more critical issue of salvation. So which are you more aware of, the present suffering, or the great salvation (Hebrews 2:3) that is in Jesus Christ?

To know true joy in the midst of suffering is to recognize that regardless of the severity of suffering we experience in this life, it is never as great or as serious as our sins. That's a divine perspective of suffering. As a Christian, our suffering is never as great as our sins.