God has given us many things to do. There are battles to fight and missions to accomplish. And we have no intention of dropping the ball on our watch. We’re driven for good, but we must not let this blind us to love.
To be sure, there are those who have grown lazy – perhaps always thinking but rarely moving into meaningful action. Their endless contemplation is a type of fig leaf that keeps them from taking risks. And wanting to show no hint of being ineffective ourselves, we’re often quick to make initial decisions, while, of course, being willing to adjust course as needed along the way.
Our drivenness accomplishes many good things. But, as often is the case, our gift and sin are flip sides of the same coin. In our zeal to get things done we can miss caring for the hearts of those around us, particularly those who operate at a different speed. We become so focused on our agenda that we’re blind to the impact it has on others.
To be fair, it’s not that we don’t care about others. In fact, our drive is often to advance the good of our home and community. But, in the moment, it’s easy to lose sight of how our well-meaning efforts are effectively steamrolling others – leaving them essentially feeling controlled and defective. We unintentionally push our agenda with an air of superiority that causes others to feel like they cannot measure up.
Remembering we each have our different gifts allows us to remain confident in ours while respecting what others have to offer as well. And this allows us to harmonize our efforts. On the one hand, we keep things moving forward. But others remind us of the need also for deep thought and empathy.
In the end, stay driven without losing sight of your need to love – offering grace and patience to those whose gifts are different from your own.
Photo by Julia Larson on Pexels
