Japanese is well known as the most hardworking people. Thus, ‘ganbatte’ is one of the most famous Japanese words which means ‘do your best’ or maybe Malaysian Chinese will translate it as ‘加油-add oil’. Japanese encourage each other and encourage themselves to work harder and harder to achieve a better result and future. Believing the charm of ‘ganbatte’ is in Japanese DNA, they trust the spell so much that even most of them don’t like to work hard or work over time, but Japan is still the nation with longest working hours for many years (until Korean won these years). ‘Ganbatte’ is like a spell or even a curse that people cast on each other to tie each other to continue the image of hardworking, as if hardworking is the best name card to the world. Unclaimed annual leaves, no rest day and overtime are common not only for adult but also kids, that is why travellers seeing teenagers with uniforms during weekends.
‘Do Japanese Christians make their time to come to church?’ might be the first question comes to your mind. The answer is, they try to, but if works or family or school activities bump in, they will skip the church service. This is so common that 99% of the pastors automatically understood without saying anything because works comes first is written in the DNA and they must ‘ganbatte’ for their secular life, just like other Japanese. Sabbath is nothing compared to work; rest is like a monster. It is not that Japanese does not like vacation or rest, just they mind too much how other Japanese think about them if they enjoy their annual leaves or leave their office on time after office hour. ‘Ganbatte’ is a curse rather than an encouragement. Even God rest on the 7th day after His Great Creation, but many Japanese says and believe resting while others are not a shame. The fear of others commenting their actions comes before everything, even God. God bless the sabbath and bless His people with a rest day, but many choose the way of the Pharisees and make it a day not to enjoy but to suffer with. Many of them wish to rest but force to keep up to the nation’s standard of hardworking, even its just an act and they do not even agree or enjoy it.
People think that planning well enough or working hard enough will bear the fruit accordingly. Thus, when the result comes out well, these people will glorify themselves as hard worker and they justify themselves for their cultivation. This is not true if we do learn from the teaching of apostle James in his book, James 4:13-17. As a disciple of Christ, we ought to know if what we do, plan, or say is the Lord’s will, or it is just our own desire which we are trying to force ourselves or God to fulfil it for our own purpose. For our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that ‘Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ Knowing the Lord’s will and seek Him first should come before anything else.
Relating yourself to Japanese in certain ways? Say NO to the ‘ganbatte’ curse and live a thankful and joyful lives, knowing and enjoying God’s wills fulfil in us every day.
God bless you.
