I took a strategy class years ago in business school, but about the only thing I remember the professor saying is (paraphrasing): “Strategy includes not only doing our best at what we do but also deciding what not to do.” There were a couple of points to this. One, it’s important to not get distracted in order to do the things that need to be done. Second, and more importantly, it’s essential to be deliberate and intentional about what we should not be doing. We should know what things ours are to deal with and which things aren’t. Not that we can always avoid things, but strategy involves knowing what those things are.
The apostles Paul and Peter understood this principle. In Romans 11:13, Paul referred to himself as “an apostle to the Gentiles.” Of course, he often preached in the Jewish synagogues of the towns he visited, but he knew his emphasis should be on getting the Gospel to the Gentiles.[1] On the other hand, the focus of Peter’s ministry was the Jews. When he wrote 1 Peter, he addressed it to the “Dispersion,”[2] referring mainly to Jews living outside of Palestine, but he also knew Gentiles would benefit from it.
It is this division of labor that Paul refers to in 2 Corinthians 10:13 – “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.”
Paul did not boast in his own work but freely boasted of the work of God through him. He wasn’t being arrogant, but giving God the glory for anything he succeeded in. But even so, Paul knew his boasting had to be limited to work that was specifically his to do, in this case taking the gospel to Gentiles in Corinth.
If Peter and Paul had limits, each of us do as well. God understands this better than anyone, since he is the one working through us and also defining those limits, or our “area of influence.” Warren Wiersbe, commenting on the verse, wrote: “God is not going to measure us on the basis of the gifts and opportunities that He gave to Charles Spurgeon or Billy Sunday. He will measure my work by what He assigned to me.”[3]
It’s a shame in our culture that we have phrases like “silence is complicity,” as if every problem is every person’s problem to solve, and as if speaking out about problems is as good as actually doing something about them. It’s also a shame that over-emphasis on other people’s problems can easily, and often, keep us from dealing with things right in front of us. But how do we know what to deal with and not deal with? Our social media feeds are not the answer.
Knowing our “area of influence”, in my experience, requires constant cultivation of our relationship with God. Bible study, prayer, meditation, fellowship. When I’ve made those investments, it’s been amazing how what God says to me has application to specific life situations. Maybe when I read about patience, I find myself in a situation where it’s hard to be patient. Maybe I read about holiness, and it makes me confront some sin or bad habit in my life. Maybe I read about forgiveness and think of someone I may be ignoring or holding a grudge against. Maybe I learn about a new way to express my spiritual gifts or find a new person to share them with. Maybe I read about caring for widows and orphans and I learn about a single mother who needs help.
Not all tasks are ours to do, but it’s important to note that we are accountable for the tasks God has for us. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). While he doesn’t call one person and ask them to do everything, He does call many and gives them their roles.
But the point of this post is that we can’t do everything. Many situations require prayer that God will provide someone to help. Someone to bring Christ into that situation. Sometimes I’ve come across the solution later or found someone else who is in a position to help, but still, I’m not accountable to God for being perfect, for helping everyone I come across.
If we’re paying attention to the “area of influence” in front of us instead of every possible problem in the world, God can do great things through each of us. But if we don’t intentionally decide to strategically leave some problems alone, we may find ourselves aimless and spinning our wheels.
May God give us all direction.
“But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.”
[1] See also 1 Timothy 2:7
[2] 1 Peter 1:1
[3] Wiersbe, Warren. Be Encouraged (2 Corinthians) (1994). P. 136.
Driving Toward the Morning Sun 