• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Anchored in Christ

KevinHalloran.net

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact
  • Popular Posts
  • Speaking
  • Resources
    • The Gospel
    • Free Prayer Tools
    • 100+ Book Recommendations for Christians
    • 100+ of the Best Christian Biographies
    • 250+ Free Online Seminary Classes, Courses, Programs, and Book Recommendations
    • Accessible Theology Book Series
  • When Prayer Is a Struggle
  • Videos
  • Español

Kevin / September 22, 2015

Does What You Do Define You? 3 Dangerous Ways to Think About Your Identity

YF7YOYCMKN

Everybody in leadership needs to foster the right self-identity in relationship to their work. For many of us, identity issues can be major sources of pain and frustration as we seek to make a difference in the position the Lord has placed us.

Craig Hamilton mentions this in his new book Wisdom in Leadership: The How and Why of Leading the People You Serve in the chapter titled “Don’t let what God wants you to do get in the way of who God wants you to be.”

In that chapter, Hamilton talks about the delicate balance all in leadership positions need to have in thinking about themselves and their leadership roles, and mentions three dangers in thinking about the being/doing relationship:

Danger #1: Trying to separate the two can lead to thinking that who God wants you to be has no impact on what God wants you to do.

Danger #2: Trying to separate the two can also lead to thinking that what God wants you to do is more important than who God wants you to be.

Danger #3: When you see who you are and what you do as completely overlapping, you can begin to think that what God has called you to do is what God has called you to be. This third danger doesn’t have as much to do with personal godliness and discipleship as it does with where you find your worth and value.

Maybe you’re like me and resonate with all three of these dangers at one time or another. For me, the key to striking the right balance is to (1) find my identity in the finished work of Christ and to (2) realize that God doesn’t need me.

Hamilton picks up on the need to have an identity rooted in Christ when he shares the dangerous path some of Christ’s disciples started down when they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” (Luke 10:17). Sensing the danger, Jesus replied:

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20; emphasis mine)

This is key to striking the right being and doing balance.

The joy and wonder of our salvation should fuel our works of service for Christ and not the other way around (Titus 2:11-14). If we burden ourselves thinking that our worth flows from our service, we are doomed to despair because we can never do enough. We can’t let our work for Christ cause us to forget Christ’s finished work for us.

We also need to remember that God doesn’t need us, but graciously chooses to use us to accomplish His purposes. This not only keeps me from trying to be a savior I was never meant to be, but also fills me with tremendous joy that the God of the universe would task me with something, however small, to do for His glory.

We can’t let our work for Christ cause us to forget Christ’s finished work for us.

Click To Tweet

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPrint Friendly

Related Posts

  • The Transformative Power of Identity: A World Series LessonThe Transformative Power of Identity: A World Series Lesson
  • How My Bible Reading Got DerailedHow My Bible Reading Got Derailed
  • The Gospel for ScammersThe Gospel for Scammers
  • Why We Stink at EvangelismWhy We Stink at Evangelism
  • A Personal UpdateA Personal Update

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Print

Filed Under: Leadership, Ministry Tagged With: Identity in Christ

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. FAITH AND WORK | Coram Deo ~ says:
    October 15, 2015 at 9:21 am

    […] 3 Dangerous Ways to Think About Your Identity. Our friend Kevin Halloran writes “Everybody in leadership needs to foster the right self-identity in relationship to their work. For many of us, identity issues can be major sources of pain and frustration as we seek to make a difference in the position the Lord has placed us.” […]

  2. 4 Sermons on Contentment and Discontent | How to Be Content | Word + Life | KevinHalloran.net says:
    June 2, 2016 at 11:18 am

    […] Does What You Do Define You? 3 Dangerous Ways to Think About Your Identity […]

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Now Available in Paperback, Kindle, and Audiobook

Recent Posts

  • Overcoming the Obstacle of Legalism in Prayer
  • Top Links for March 2023
  • A Book on Prayer Designed for Small Groups
  • The Gospel for Scammers
  • Top Links for February 2023
  • When You Fear God Doesn’t Hear Your Prayers
  • Top Links for January 2022
  • God’s Sovereignty Should Fuel Prayer, Not Hinder It
  • The Best of 2022
  • What does “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” mean?

Blog Sponsors

Blog Categories

Bible & Theology Books & Reviews Christian Living Culture Evangelism Humor Leadership Life Links Marriage & Relationships Ministry Missions Prayer Quotes Resources Social Media & Technology






Footer

About Me

I serve with Open the Bible. I wrote When Prayer Is a Struggle: A Practical Guide for Overcoming Obstacles in Prayer (P&R). Learn more about the book.

Learn More

Let’s Connect!

Follow me on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter

Follow me on Instagram

Subscribe to my channel on YouTube

Videos: When Prayer Is a Struggle

FTC Disclosure of Material Connection: I sometimes share affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through a link, I make a small commission at no extra cost to you to cover blogging expenses.

Copyright © 2023 · Digital Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.