In my job I do internal communications and it’s a give and take process of sharing information. In fact, the ultimate goal of it all is really about facilitating engagement between different parties in the business, making sure that all parties are on the same page in terms of what the business needs to achieve. Often to get people’s interest, one has to go through great lengths to have their attention. Compounded by the fact that we live in an information overload age…one is always competing against many other messages. Sometimes one resorts to ‘bribes’, offering rewards for participation e.g. free food, prizes etc. in return for their participation in surveys, or to show they are listening and possibly understand. It’s sad to have to do this since people should take initiative to get information they require to do their jobs and understand their role in the big picture, but it helps get the people to pay attention to the message.
So is it selfishness or just that people prioritise what they want to hear? In which case, to what extent do we prioritise tuning in and hearing from God? I was challenged. Does God have to offer me rewards and incentives for me to tune in and hear from Him? Does there really have to be something in it for me before I can take time to engage with him?
Out of love, He wants me to spend time with Him so I may know things that He wants to show me. It is about relationship with Him and His will after all – my life and everything about me is His will for me. He said in Jeremiah 33:2-3, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you don’t know.” And regardless of what the outcome is going to be, whether ultimately there are rewards or not, His banner for us is love. He is gentle and won’t force Himself on anyone – instead we are the ones to open the door when He knocks (Rev 3:20). I don’t know about you but I want to bask in His loving arms and prioritise tuning into Him above all so that He can show me great and mighty things for His glory.
