Not Created for Cutthroat

I’m naturally an absolutely nasty person.

That may seem self-demeaning, but it is the truth. By nature, I am an ENTJ, slash-and-burn, “I will rule the world,” type of personality. As I tell my family and friends fairly frequently, “I would make a great tyrant if I didn’t love Jesus.”

That’s not who I am in Christ. He calls me holy, righteous, and redeemed through his blood. He calls me to be full of grace, gentle, kind, loving, and compassionate. However, righteousness is already and not yet, and the world seems to applaud the cutthroats.

If you look at society, a cutthroat, no holds barred, winner-take-all attitude is not only commended, but encouraged. You are pushed to do whatever it takes to get to and stay at the top, no matter who you hurt in the process. It’s all about you; after all, all’s fair in love and war, right?

As someone who naturally is that way, this world is a very hard place to live within. Conflict arises, and I know Jesus wants me to show grace, kindness, and forgiveness to the other person. Yet, isn’t it easier to follow the societal trend to only think about yourself and burn bridges if they get too hard to traverse?

Folks, we were not created for the cutthroat life. If we’re following Jesus, it’s going to feel unnatural trekking through this life when we are striving to do exactly the opposite of what the rest of humanity would tell us to do. Yet, it’s like that in so many more ways than just this; it’s not an easy road to walk, but He says He’s walking with us, thus, I can speak over my heart the exact same words as David: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.” (Ps. 62:5)

So, let’s be in the business of restoring bridges instead of burning them. Let’s be peacemakers in a world at war. Let’s love when hated and forgive when hurt and be honest where truth will heal. It’s not easy; in fact, it’s nearly impossible. But we weren’t created to be cutthroat, and thus, the more we walk in the way we were created to walk, the more we will grow to love it.

After all, we’re not walking it alone.