Results-driven or Discipleship

Working for a major corporation, I’ve gotten used to the need to be results-driven. It makes sense. A company needs to be concerned on ROI – return on investment. If they invest resources, they need to be confident it will increase the profitability of the company. My work involves deciding what we should invest in doing so I am always thinking about how this will help the company grow and deciding which things to not do as well.

“And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.” ‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So, I have to keep in mind that Jesus, my Lord, wants to lead me and His economy is not results-driven — at least, I may not be able to calculate and operate in a results mindset. God is love and does things toward the beloved, us, that transcend the simple math of human ROI. He’s doing advanced calculus in multiple dimensions and we’re doing simple arithmetic with crayons on a big-chief tablet. Our Father loves us but we are his children and still have a limited ability to understand his ways.

I once sent a story out to a few family members about a pastor who chooses to save his son’s friend over his son when their boat capsizes. His decision was based on the fact that he knew his son was a believer and the other boy was not and he was unwilling to let the other boy live an eternity without God. A uncle of mine who was a business leader replied that he couldn’t see the business sense in the story.

I think we all have that problem sometimes until we are transformed by letting Jesus renew our minds as Romans 12:2 says. The word transformed in this verse, the Greek word metamorphoō from which we derive metamorphosis, is the same word that is used in Matthew 17:2 and Mark 9:2 where Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James, and John and they see him in his glory.

When we think of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly, we imagine a once and for all change — but we need to let God renew our minds continually. While the disciples were moved by the transfiguration, they needed to continue their walk with Jesus and we need to continue to let our relationship with him day-by-day transform us. In fact, the only other use of this Greek word is in 2 Corinthians 3:18 which says: And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

This ability to see and operate in a God-driven economy is intrinsically linked to our willingness to turn our unveiled face toward Christ, contemplating the Lord’s glory above our own then let that guide us. It is really what faith is, but we then need to actualize our faith by doing what Jesus leads us to do, whether they hear or refuse to hear, regardless of our limited ability to calculate that the results will be favorable from our natural point of view.

After Jesus was transfigured, a voice from heaven speaks, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *