How’s Your “Race Car” Running?
Justin Jones / Executive Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Strategic Development
In this “For Every Person” series we are talking about the importance of relationships and community. God designed us to have deep relationships that transform us and through those God-oriented relationships the world is transformed. But there are a lot of challenges to having strong, healthy, godly relationships with people. It can be messy.
Much of what I do on a daily basis with our staff and in our church family is to coach and counsel people. So, I am often speaking into peoples’ lives as they struggle with how to live in deep relationship with others. Last week and this week, as I was speaking into some situations God brought a picture to mind – the picture of a race car driver.
If you think of what makes a race car driver successful, there are at least three components: a good car, a good driver, and fuel. If you don’t have fuel, there is no point in racing a car. Fuel is essential. If you have fuel and a driver but not a good car, you can race for a little bit but probably not for long. If you have fuel and a good car but not a good driver, it’s likely you will be able to go for a while, but in the end you will be a danger to yourself and others.
How does this apply to godly relationships? Well, when we are in community with other believers there are at least three components that impact how successful that community is: my individual spiritual growth, our love and care for one another, and the tasks or roles that I play. These three elements are the same no matter if I am in a family, a small group, a church staff, a business, on a mission trip, etc.
In the same way that a race car driver can only be successful if all three components are solid, the same is true in relationships. If I love people and am skilled in my tasks, but my spiritual life is a mess there is no hope of me being healthy in community. If my spiritual life is growing and I am skilled in my tasks but there is drama in relationships, I can stay solid for a little while, but the community suffers. I have to learn some new principles and new tools to do some “tune-ups” in those relationships. If I have a growing spiritual life and care in our relationships but I am not effectively living out my tasks/role, then I can keep that going for a while but there is potential for danger to myself and others in the long run.
Ideally, if we are growing in all three of these areas then a healthy, Christian community is a strong likelihood. So how is it going for you? How’s your “race car” running? Is there a particular aspect of your life that seems to not be running well? These are questions I am asking of myself. I encourage you to take some time to do the same!