What Personality Has To Do With Destiny

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Last week I attended a fundraiser for a local judge. On the way there it occurred to me what an odd thing a fundraiser must be for a judge. Judging is a very intellectual job, yet one has to be social enough to get elected. It’s a profession where the people most qualified to serve are least likely to get the job.

Being a trial lawyer presents similar challenges for me. Yesterday I sat at my computer at work from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a thirty minute break for lunch. I was so engrossed in what I was doing I couldn’t believe when I looked at the clock and saw it was nearly 4:00 p.m.

It’s the way I’m hardwired. I can concentrate for very long periods of time on a single task. It’s a good aptitude to have for a trial attorney. But then there are other requirements of trial lawyering that cut directly against my aptitudes and personality traits, things I struggle with but I do because they are necessary. To others they are easy and a joy.

Now, none of what I have just described has anything to do with sin or righteousness. It really has more to do with personality, how one is hardwired. Part of being a person is having certain aptitudes and not having others.

Here’s where I’m going with this. Jesus was sinless, but He was still a person. I’m no theologian, but I think it’s safe to say Jesus was hardwired to be more one way than another. For example, I wonder whether Jesus was naturally more extroverted or introverted, whether He drew more energy from being around people or being alone.

Regardless, I think it’s safe to say that whichever was not his natural tendency, He was able to function in it when necessary to fulfill His destiny. And that’s really the key. If Jesus was naturally extroverted but couldn’t spend time alone with the Father He wouldn’t have fulfilled His destiny. If He was naturally introverted and could spend hours in prayer but couldn’t successfully interact for extended periods of time with people, He wouldn’t have fulfilled His destiny.

There is much talk today about knowing your strengths. Everyone naturally wants to talk about their strengths because it makes them feel good about themselves. But managing your strengths is not particularly difficult. It is being able to function competently in your weaknesses that is more crucial to fulfilling your destiny.

So, the question is, “How well are you managing your weaknesses? GS

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