Halfheartedness (noun): (Ironic Definition) The state of being halfhearted. See Websters for a better definition. ;-D
I was out for a short run this morning (too short, really, given that there is a half-marathon looming a week from Sunday). As I was running through an intersection of my neighborhood, a car came up to the stop sign facing me. They slowed down and kind of made to stop but only did a bump stop about half-way through the intersection.
Halfhearted.
That word jumped into my mind when I saw that and my mind went into a tailspin of all the things we each do that are really halfhearted efforts. Those halfhearted efforts run the gamut. They are found in our interactions with our “closest” friends, our work efforts, our relationships with spouse, children, and other family. Ahem. . .our relationship with God. (Well, I did, umm, listen to a Christian song on the radio. . .for part of it. . .last week. We’re good, right God???!!)
Yet, in I Corinthians 10:31, Paul exhorts the reader, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” In Colossians 3:17, Paul also says, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” That doesn’t sound like halfheartedness, there. Those burn as they go down. They sting the senses when you consider the efforts you made on this or that, no?
As leaders, as Christians, we need to push to do everything we can to fully engage in what we are doing…for God’s glory as His representative on earth. We are His ministers (formal and informal alike). The definition I’ve always liked for “minister” is “one who stands in place of a great one” (or the Great One in our case). We won’t hit the mark every time. In fact, I am pretty positive that I will have some halfhearted efforts towards some things in my life in the future. God’s grace covers us in those situations.
But what if you could, as part of your practice, root out halfheartedness most of the time? What if you went all in on most of the things you do? What if you loved more deeply those around you? What if you worked hardy, smarter, and better in your job/company/personal business? What if your daily personal message to others was, “I’m here, for you, as a representative of Christ” in every interaction?
Where would that attitude take you?
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