Daily Devotions based the Sermon from February 7, 2021
THIS WEEK: A Mission-Minded Person Has a Caring Heart!
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much your care.”
This phrase is attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, but I heard it from John Maxwell, leadership guru.
The point is, people are more interested in what’s in your heart before their interested in what’s in your head.
We’ve probably all had some experience with this, right?
The coworker or boss that just wants to give you the information for the project but never notices or takes interest in what’s going on in your life.
A classmate who simply wants homework help or answers, but never says, “Hi” or “How are you?” when you pass in the hall way.
A sales person that wants you to have all the details of the car HE wants to sell you without taking time to understand what is important and matters to you.
We’ve done it as Christians too.
We have great information, truth and knowledge that we want people to know, believe and live. With good intention we desire the Holy Spirit to work through the words we share to quickly change the heart of an individual from unbelief to faith.
But instead, they are repulsed.
Why?
Because people don’t care what you know until they know how much you care.
If we are going to gain the right to be heard and have the trust of another person, we must not dump the load of theological truth on them, but rather open our heart to them.
How?
Ask a few questions. “How are you?” “Tell me about your family.” “Did you do anything fun this weekend?” “How is your friend, I know you mentioned they were not doing well?” Etc.
The irony in this?
When we take time to care, people are interested in what we know.
The Apostle Paul put it this way:
1 Corinthians 8:1 We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
So take time to care first and then be ready to share the important knowledge God has given to you.
Care first. Share second.
Apply: Take time today to ask one question of someone you don’t know well that shows genuine interest or concern. Then make sure to listen!
Prayer: Lord, too often I dump information on people that never matters to them because I have forgotten to show love and care first. Help me to see your pattern of caring for people and their physical needs so you would have an opportunity to share the answer to their spiritual needs. AMEN.