I’ve got a New Year’s spiritual growth petition: I Resolve to be more like an investor and less like an inspector in the lives of others.  

One of the necessary but less joyful experiences of pastoring for the last 36 years has been dealing with various inspectors from the local municipality where I have served.  I am talking about building inspectors, wiring inspectors, fire safety inspectors, environmental inspectors, etc.  Now don’t misunderstand me,  I believe their job is important.  Having traveled abroad in countries that didn’t have the building and safety inspectors of the US, I have experienced the inconvenience and insecurity of places that had low or no standards for such things.

However, when it comes to adding value and living powerfully with others we need to be investors and not inspectors.  The inspector comes by to see if you meticulously followed the rules.  The inspector carries with him or her the threat of shutting you down if you don’t comply with regulations.  The inspector normally has no passion or interest in the purpose and vision of the building.  It’s the inspector’s job to criticize and point out what’s wrong, then leave. 

Years ago, we had a visit from a lady who approached us after the service to inform us that God had given her the ministry of going around and critiquing churches.  She went on to say, “your music is good, the preaching is good, but your lighting and organization is poor.”  I think she was right on all counts, but the problem was she was an inspector, not an investor. She insisted this was God’s call on her life; I am positive she was wrong.

Professionally if you are an inspector of some sort, that is a very noble profession. But Christ followers are not called to be inspectors, we are called to be investors.  Perhaps you have the unfortunate experience of being friends with or even living in the household with an inspector.  If you do, then you know that they will walk right past your struggles, the things you have labored hard to do well and the places you have made beautiful to point out where you missed it or left a mess.  Inspectors don’t rub your tired shoulders or comment on the weariness in your face, they just want to know why you failed or point out to you the tragedy they averted by crossing one of your t’s and dotting one of your i’s.

Investors will sometimes criticize us too, but their criticism is overwhelmed by affirmation. Investors will use their time, their money, and their energy to help us fix the thing that could make us better.  We all know when we are suffering a little from the loving rebuke of an investor over the harsh cold analysis of an inspector.

I love the following short Bible story. Luke 13:6-9 (MSG)  Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’  “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’ ”  

So how about seeing yourself as a gardener in the places that you live, work, and worship? Although you can see flaws, you are willing to get your hands dirty to make things better.  Everybody in your life should know first and foremost that you love them. Inspectors play “gotcha,” with others.  Having people worship, work, and live with you who always seem to be trying to catch you falling short, doesn’t feel very good and it will not produce the results any of us are after.  Remember, inspectors don’t build anything they just inspect what other people build.  You can only be a builder if you are deeply committed to love others.

I admit it, I often struggle with being quietly critical while avoiding being to deeply involved in the lives of others: having those tough conversations, taking the time to go to coffee with people; you know what I’m talking about.  Since I am an introvert my critical spirit is subtle, disguising itself with sarcasm, humor, and emotional distance, but God isn’t fooled.  However, I am asking God to help me to be more like that faithful farmer in Luke 13, who gets deeply involved like an investor instead of distant and analytical like an inspector.