The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency: Embracing the Power of Slow Living.

The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency

Have you ever felt like your life is a never-ending to-do list? Like you're constantly rushing from one task to another, trying to keep up with the demands of modern life? Maybe you've even developed a system to manage it all, like I did. But what happens when that system is turned upside down, and you're forced to confront the reality of your own inefficiency?

That's exactly what happened to me when my family moved to India after ten years of living in a suburb of Portland. Suddenly, everything that had once been predictable and organized was thrown into chaos. Appointments were missed because of traffic, produce on my grocery list was unavailable, and the electricity would sometimes go out for hours at a time. I felt completely out of control.

But over time, I began to see that there was a sanctifying grace in my inefficiency. In this article, we'll explore what the Bible has to say about efficiency, why it's so important to us, and how God can use our inefficiencies to shape us into the people he wants us to be.

Why Efficiency Matters to Us

Efficiency is a value that's deeply ingrained in our culture. We're taught from a young age to be productive, to make the most of our time, and to always be striving for more. We're told that if we can just manage our time and resources well enough, we can achieve anything we want.

And there's certainly some truth to that. Being efficient can help us accomplish our goals, make the most of our resources, and even free up time for the things that matter most to us. But when efficiency becomes our primary goal, it can quickly turn into an idol.

We begin to measure our worth by how much we can accomplish, how many tasks we can check off our to-do list, and how little time we can waste. We start to see ourselves as machines, constantly churning out work without regard for our own physical, emotional, or spiritual needs. And we become so focused on efficiency that we forget the people around us, the beauty of the world God has created, and the simple joys of everyday life.

What the Bible Says About Efficiency

So what does the Bible have to say about efficiency? Surprisingly, very little. While the Bible certainly has plenty to say about hard work, stewardship, and using our resources wisely, it doesn't place a high value on efficiency for its own sake.

In fact, when we look at the life of Jesus, we see that he often did things in a way that was inefficient by worldly standards. He spent hours talking to the woman at the well, even though he could have simply given her a quick answer and moved on. He stopped to heal the blind beggar, even though he was on his way to Jerusalem for the Passover. And he allowed himself to be interrupted by the bleeding woman, even though he was on his way to heal Jairus's daughter.

These actions may have seemed inefficient, but they were motivated by something more important than efficiency: love. Jesus saw each person he encountered as a valuable human being, worthy of his time and attention. He didn't see them as tasks to be checked off his to-do list, but as individuals with their own stories, struggles, and needs.

When we focus too much on efficiency, we can easily lose sight of the people around us. We may be able to get more done in less time, but at what cost? Are we really loving our neighbors as ourselves, or are we treating them as obstacles to our own success?

The Sanctifying Grace of Inefficiency

So if efficiency isn't the ultimate goal, what is? As Christians, we believe that our ultimate goal is to become more like Christ. We want to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We want to live lives that are pleasing to God and that bring him glory.

And sometimes, God uses our inefficiencies to help us achieve those goals. When we're forced to slow down, to be patient, to rely on others, or to simply wait on God, we're given an opportunity to grow in faith, hope, and love.

For example, when we're stuck in traffic, we can use that time to pray for the people around us, to listen to a sermon or worship music, or to simply be still and know that God is God. When we're waiting in line at the grocery store, we can strike up a conversation with the person in front of us, or we can take a moment to thank God for the abundance of food we have access to.

And when we're faced with a task that seems overwhelming or impossible, we can turn to God for strength and wisdom. We can ask him to help us see the people behind the task, to remember our ultimate goal of loving God and our neighbors, and to trust that he will provide everything we need to do his will.

Conclusion

Efficiency can be a useful tool, but it can also be a dangerous idol. When we focus too much on efficiency, we can lose sight of the people and the world around us. We can become so obsessed with getting things done that we forget to be present, to be grateful, and to be loving.

But when we embrace our inefficiencies, we open ourselves up to the sanctifying grace of God. We're reminded that we're not machines, but human beings created in the image of God. We're given opportunities to grow in faith, hope, and love, and to become more like Christ.

So the next time you're faced with an inefficiency, whether it's traffic, a long line, or a daunting task, remember that God can use even the most inefficient moments to shape you into the person he wants you to be. Embrace the sanctifying grace of inefficiency, and trust that God is at work in and through all things.