{"id":410,"date":"2019-01-07T16:13:29","date_gmt":"2019-01-07T22:13:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/?p=410"},"modified":"2020-07-09T13:07:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-09T18:07:20","slug":"pursuing-gods-ways-being-vs-doing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reconciledworld.org\/flourish\/pursuing-gods-ways-being-vs-doing\/","title":{"rendered":"Pursuing God\u2019s Ways: Being vs Doing"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a child I remember being asked many times what I wanted to do when I grew up. What job did I want to have? I know my answers were a wide-range, from a football player to a zookeeper. It was a question prompting hopes and goals, a good motivator to working hard and dreaming. But the truth is <\/span>what we want to <\/span>do<\/span><\/i> is not nearly as important as who we want to <\/span>be<\/span><\/i>.<\/span> The older I get the more important that statement becomes. As author Charles Swindoll once said, \u201cIt\u2019s possible to do lots of things yet be zilch [nothing] as a person.\u201d <\/span>[1]<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

I think one of the biggest challenges facing Christian leaders today is an identity crisis. We live in a world where what we <\/span>do <\/span><\/i>tends to define us. However, as Christ followers we can\u2019t let that happen. We can\u2019t be people living zilch lives! It doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t serve, give, or go, it means we do all of that out of gratitude for what God has already done for us. Our identity is not in what we <\/span>do <\/span><\/i>but in who we are as sons and daughters in Christ. <\/span><\/p>\n

To pursue God\u2019s ways is to be people of <\/span>being <\/span><\/i>over people of <\/span>doing<\/span><\/i>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Doing vs Being, what\u2019s the difference?<\/h4>\n

Doing often correlates with <\/span>how we make a living<\/span><\/i>, our career. Being on the other hand is much deeper. Being relates to our character, <\/span>how we make a life<\/span><\/i>. Doing is salary, involvements, and trophies \u2013 the tangible things. Being is more intangible \u2013 the kind of people we become on the inside, things that can\u2019t be measured by awards and accolades. But of the two, <\/span>being <\/span><\/i>will outdistance <\/span>doing <\/span><\/i>every time. It\u2019s not a quick or easy process, it often takes years in the making, but it is what lasts. Being is where the true significance and inspiration lies. <\/span>[1]<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a chart <\/span>[2]<\/span><\/sup><\/span> that breaks down some differences between the two. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Being<\/b><\/p>\n

Interior<\/span><\/p>\n

Abiding<\/span><\/p>\n

Solitude<\/span><\/p>\n

Intimacy<\/span><\/p>\n

Invisible<\/span><\/p>\n

Rest<\/span><\/p>\n

Real life<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Doing<\/b><\/p>\n

Exterior<\/span><\/p>\n

Serving<\/span><\/p>\n

Engagement<\/span><\/p>\n

Activity<\/span><\/p>\n

Visible<\/span><\/p>\n

Work<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflected life<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Out of Balance?<\/h4>\n

It is easy to become unbalanced. It doesn\u2019t take much to begin to put lots of emphasis on our <\/span>doing<\/span><\/i>; our accomplishments and achievements; to feed our built in hunger for security, significance and satisfaction through ministry productivity. However, the reality is that real life in Christ (<\/span>being) <\/span><\/i>is countercultural. Rest, solitude, dependence on God \u2013 these are things that make little sense from a worldly perspective. From a kingdom perspective however, they breed life. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Bible clearly advocates for doing. (James 1:23-25, John 2:18, James 1:22) Both being and doing are scriptural and interrelated but the biblical order is critical: what we do should flow out of who we are, not the other way around. Otherwise, our worth and identity are determined by our achievements and accomplishments, and when we stop performing we cease to be valuable. Therefore, being should have priority over doing, but it should also be expressed in doing. <\/span>[2]<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

So how do you know if you are out of balance? That your identity is skewed? Here are five questions to ponder:<\/span><\/p>\n

5 Questions to ponder<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. \u00a0What\u2019s your motivation for serving?<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u00a0Are you looking to your work for significance and security rather than to God?<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0Is busyness and activity robbing you of healthy relationships?<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0Are you trying to fulfill every need and request in order to please people and meet their expectations?<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0Are you de-energized, tired and frustrated with serving and caring for people? <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So what do you do if you find yourself struggling? <\/span><\/p>\n

    4 Suggestions: Using truth to reverse the cultural curse<\/h4>\n

    Here are four Biblical truths that we can be sure of: <\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The Scriptures tell us that there is nothing we can do to earn favor before God, since all of our own efforts fall short of His character and righteousness. (Romans 3:23; Titus 3:5-7). <\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Just as none of our actions will make God love us more, it is equally true that there is nothing we can think, say, or do that will make God love us less than He does. (Romans 5:6-10). <\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Spiritual growth is accomplished by Christ\u2019s life in us, not by our own attempts to create life. Our responsibility is to walk in the power of the Spirit and not in dependence on the flesh. (Galatians 2:20; 5:16-25). <\/span><\/li>\n
    4. The focus of the Christian life should not be deeds and actions, but a relationship; it is not centered on a product, but on a Person. It is a matter of abiding in Christ Jesus (John 15:1-10) rather than fulfilling a set of religious formula.\u00a0<\/span>Borrowed from Bible.org <\/i>[2]<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Once grounded in truth it is time to make some practical changes! <\/span><\/p>\n

      8 Suggestions for enhancing your daily life in Christ.<\/h4>\n
        \n
      1. Develop an understanding of your limits so that you will budget time with the Father for restoring your inner resources. <\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Free yourself from bondage to the opinions, agendas, and expectations of others. Learn to say no to invitations and requests that may flatter you but could drain your time and energy. <\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Resist the temptation to allow work to invade rest. <\/span><\/li>\n
      4. Realize that rest requires faith, because it seems non-productive from the world\u2019s point of view. <\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Try to live from moment to moment and hold a looser grip on your long-term plans. \u201cOur great business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand\u201d (Thomas Carlyle).<\/span><\/li>\n
      6. Develop an eye that recognizes God\u2019s beauty in nature. Give him praise!<\/span><\/li>\n
      7. Ask for the grace to see every person you meet and every circumstance you face today as a gift from God.<\/span><\/li>\n
      8. Pray, read and ask Jesus to energize your time with him, cultivating an attitude of dependence on him.\u00a0<\/span>Borrowed from Bible.org <\/i>[2]<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        God sees us not for what we accomplish but for who we are in Christ. The truth is we can spend our lives giving, serving and going but if it is apart from His Spirit then all our efforts and results are considered nothing. Leaders of Reconciled World, you are forgiven, accepted, and loved not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus Christ has already done on the cross. Independent of your performance, you are loved.<\/span><\/p>\n

        May God give each of us strength to boldly stand on the truth of who we are in Christ, not caving to the pressure of valuing our doing over our being. <\/span>[3]<\/span><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

        \n

        Growth Point<\/h4>\n

        As Christians we should value our <\/span>being <\/span><\/i>over our <\/span>doing <\/span><\/i>because it is possible to be successful, even in service, yet be heading in the wrong direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Scripture Point<\/h4>\n

        Read Colossians 3:17, 23. Notice the contrast between the value put on <\/span>doing whatever <\/span><\/i>and being thankful, considerate, obedient, sincere, diligent etc. What do you glean from this passage? <\/span><\/p>\n

        Action Point<\/h4>\n

        Review the 5 Questions to ponder above. What is one thing that God is stirring your heart to change in your daily life with Christ? Commit to beginning that change immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

        <\/div><\/div><\/div>

        Here are some more articles you may find helpful:<\/p>\n

        Being and Doing<\/a><\/p>\n

        It’s OKAY to say NO<\/a><\/p>\n

        Success and a New Measuring Stick<\/a><\/p>\n

        [1] https:\/\/www.insight.org\/resources\/daily-devotional\/individual\/doing-vs.-being<\/a><\/span><\/h6>\n
        [2] <\/span>https:\/\/bible.org\/seriespage\/2-process-spirituality-being-versus-doing<\/span><\/a><\/h6>\n
        [3] Greer, Peter. The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good. Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.<\/span><\/h6>\n<\/div>
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