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Gordon MacDonald's approach to bringing order to the inner world is to divide it into sectors and consider ways of strengthening each one. The first of these that he considers is the sector of motivation. The state of our inner world, he contends, is profoundly influenced by what it is that moves us to do what we do.
MacDonald discusses two contrasting sources of motivation. Jesus, he says, viewed people as being either driven or called. "Somehow," he writes, "He separated people out on the basis of their tendency to be driven or their willingness to be called. He dealt with their motives, the basis of their spiritual energy, and the sorts of gratification in which they were interested. He called those who were drawn to him and avoided those who were driven and wanted to use him" (p. 29).
Driven people are those who are motivated by "their own plans and schemes, goals and objectives" (p. 28). They are not necessarily bad people - indeed, they often make valuable contributions to society. "They start organizations; they provide jobs and opportunities; and they are often very bright and offer ways and means of doing things that benefit many other people" (p. 31). Behind this, however, is a resolute inner drive to achieve personal objectives.
According to MacDonald, you can easily spot driven people. They are typically people that are only gratified by accomplishment and are preoccupied with the symbols of accomplishment (position, status, salary, title etc.). They are "usually caught in the uncontrolled pursuit of expansion" (p. 33), and tend to have a limited regard for integrity. They often have poorly developed people skills, are highly competitive, and have the tendency to volcanic outbursts of anger. And finally, driven people are usually abnormally busy - too busy to develop relationships with people (including their family), and certainly, too busy to form an intimate relationship with God.
"Called" people operate according to a different set of internal forces. They are motivated by a sense of uniqueness and destiny. They believe they have been made to fulfil a particular purpose and find contentment in working steadily toward achieving it. Along with that they have a sense of stewardship. They don't view their talents and opportunities as their own, but as gifts entrusted to them to be used wisely and later accounted for. Their task is "simply to properly manage something for the owner until the owner comes to take it back" (p. 53).
Freed from the tyrannical pressure of accomplishing personal objectives, the called person is able to experience contentment and joy in the midst of a busy life. They know exactly who they are, and have an unswerving sense of purpose. They are not threatened by the gifts and achievements of others, nor are they tempted to achieve or gain more than is realistically possible. There is a "firmness and stability" about the private world of a called person that makes them able to persevere steadily when outer shocks occur (p. 57). This, Gordon MacDonald argues, is the state we should all aspire to. "If my private world is in order", he writes, "it will be because I see myself as Christ's steward and not as master of my purpose, my role, and my identity" (p. 50).
There can be no question that these two kinds of people exist. And it is true that what motivates us is a key to our inner strength and health. But we shall reflect more on this next week, and in particular, consider whether - as MacDonald suggests - a sense of divine call lies at the root of Christ-centred practical living.