What is primary -- work or love

As I reflect on Mother Teresa, it occurs to me that among Christian leaders, there is a big difference between a worker who loves and a lover who works. We are all called to both -- loving God (cf. the Shema) and working in his kingdom. The question is what defines us -- our role as kingdom activists or our love relationship with God.

There are a great many Christian leaders who are primarily workers. They love God, but their love for him is carried by their role as leader. Their leadership role reaches deeper places within them than does their love relationship with God.

Although Mother Teresa was famous for working very, very hard, her writings reveal someone who is not primarily a worker. That is one of the main reasons why she was canonized as a saint, and she is someone worth rediscovering.

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