Are You Drawn or Driven?
Consider this question:
What motivates you— Are you drawn or driven?
In general driven-ness in certain short-term situations is necessary (driven to meet a deadline or correct a problem) but as a lifestyle if someone is driven it a negative.
If someone is driven to succeed, he will end up using people. If one is driven by pain, selfish passion, guilt, revenge, fear, hate, shame, etc. then life becomes toxic.
In contrast consider being drawn to something.
Some have pointed out that humanity is so often drawn to 3 qualities:
truth, beauty, and goodness.
Humanity at its best is when we are drawn by these qualities.
Being drawn to something good is a life of adventure.
And it is not by accident that Jesus said,
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself…”
This and other I AM statements of Jesus indicate things that draw us, invite us to Him
I AM the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 6:41, 6:48)
I AM the light of the world. (John 8:12, John 9:5)
I am the gate for the sheep. (John 10:7,9)
I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11,14)
I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25
You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 13:13
I am the way and the truth and the life 14:6
I am the true vine 15:1 15:5
The enemy uses drives to get us off balance, tempt us with the wrong things. He uses fear, guilt and shame to drive us. He entices us with temptations to drive us— “You must, you have to, you’re missing out…” etc.
Humanity is at its worse when it is driven by hatred, fear, greed, power, jealousy, pride, revenge, etc.
The Philippians 4:8 Principle
Are you living your life being drawn to
“whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable?”
Remember:
“If anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Questions for Reflection, Application & Discussion
Share a recent example of being drawn to something good, beautiful or honest.
Repeating: “In general driven-ness in certain short-term situations is necessary (driven to meet a deadline or correct a problem) but as a lifestyle if someone is driven it a negative.”
What do you notice about yourself when you become driven because of a problem or deadline?
Although I am trying to make the case that we should be discerning between being driven and drawn… there is room for drivenness. Paul says, “Christ’s love compels us” (2 Cor 5:14).
For example, we might say a parent is ‘driven’ to want good for their child. However, even then a parent must be careful what they are defining as ‘good’ (does good=happy?) and not to let their drivenness become obsessive or blind to what is fair, right, good for the long-term, etc.
Can someone explain this better?