Theology for Everybody: RomansSample

As a child, I loved visiting my aunt’s house. She lived next to a small lake, and all the kids would spend countless hours every summer swimming, fishing, and boating. Since the regulations for the lake forbid motorized boats, we had to learn how to navigate a rowboat at an early age. When I first began, I tried to move the boat by using only one oar, but I quickly realized I was causing the boat to spin in circles. I wasn’t really going anywhere. Before too long, I got the hang of pulling both oars in unison, which made the boat move forward in a straight line.

When Paul writes to the Roman believers, he tells them to paddle with both oars: prayer and planning. He has been praying for them, but he also desires to visit them because he wants to share his plan for extending evangelism and church planting into other parts of Europe, particularly Spain. He is going to ask for their partnership (Romans 15:22–29).

Good leaders need to learn to pull both oars at the same time with equal strength. We pray while we are planning and working. Prayer is how we find God’s will, and planning is how we fulfill God’s will. If we pray but aren’t willing to do anything, do we really believe our prayers will take effect? If we plan without praying, do we think we will succeed?

Paul prays, but he is also a planner. Are you a planner? Do you love a schedule and a budget? Paul says, “For I long to see you.” He’s tried to visit Rome many times, but he’s never been able to get there. Paul tells the Roman believers, “That I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” That’s an awesome Christian relationship. I pour life into you. You pour life into me. We will both be blessed and benefited.

You may have to ask yourself if you are better at praying or planning. All of us have natural, inborn strength in one or the other. We must learn from others how to grow in the area in which we are weaker. My wife Grace is stronger at praying, so I help her with planning. I am stronger at planning, so she helps me with praying. We can row a boat together, but because we have learned from each other, we both know how to pray and plan. In every way, we are better together, which explains why God put us in the same boat. And I am thankful for it.

Today’s Reflection

Are you better at praying or planning? Who do you know who could help you grow in your weaker area? Who can you help in the area in which you are stronger?