Insignificance
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
-1 Corinthians 10:31
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."
- Mark 12:41-44
A retreat is being planned in Aurora for the fall. It's a two day Beth Moore study (I'll post more about that later). I am always amazed at how Beth can make the Word come alive. How she gleans meaning from text I never even thought about before. I can only imagine the hours she puts in to her teaching. Many, many people have been touched by her ministry.
There are so many huge ministries in the world. From worldwide ministries like Convoy of Hope to bands like Casting Crowns, huge things are being done for the cause of Christ. I wonder how many people were touched by the movie "God's Not Dead"? Numerous "famous" preachers like Billy Graham or Charles Stanley provide hope and growth for millions of people. Great and glorious things being done to lead others to a life in Christ. Sometimes I find myself in awe of all the "big" things being done in God's name.
Lately, I have been feeling very insignificant in the area of what I should be doing for the kingdom. I believe there is always something to do, and I think I am a bit lazy when it comes to working for Christ. I have a bit of a depressive personality, and I look at these huge ministries and
think what I might do is absolutely nothing compared to those.
And then I read the scripture from Mark 12 above. The widow had nothing. But she gave what she had. She gave sacrificially. Although that scripture is talking about offering, it can also relate to our work we do. It tells me it's not about the volume or scope of what we do.....it's about the heart that does it.
In the July issue of 'In Touch' magazine, Carol Barnier wrote an article titled "In All Ways, In Small Ways". Barnier writes:
" We want to be a good witness to others. As believers, it's part of our longing, our calling, and our obedience. Yet, when we think of being good disciples who follow Christ with abandon and work for the kingdom, we typically imagine ourselves doing something big and impressive like running an orphanage starting a soup kitchen working at a shelter for battered women. And there is nothing wrong with such choices. In fact, many of the major charitable movements over the centuries were born out of Christian values, community, and action. But oftentimes Jesus is best served in small ways. In the daily routines of life and the myriad to-dos and activities we perform, we have the chance to interact with those around us."
She tells of a woman who used her love for quilting as a ministry, when she went to the home of a mother of 8 children after her husband had passed away. She asked for the man's clothing so she could make each child a quilt to remember their father by. In another story, she tells of the funeral of a Haitian woman. The mourners kept telling of difficult and joyful experiences they had had which were ministered to by a home-baked cake made by this woman. She made cakes for every occasion, sharing her Jesus with them in the process. Then there was the "Gum Lady", a woman in a church where she grew up. This woman did not have a lot, but she always had a pocket full of chewing gum. All the kids knew they could go to her for a stick of gum. Visitors were taken to the "gum lady" for a welcome and a piece of gum. She gave many children a sense of belonging at church by this simple act. Although there's no mention of quilts, gum, and cakes in the Bible, I suspect these acts in His name put a smile on our Savior's face.
I know that I have a few things which are important that I do. I feel God has verified to me these are priorities for me.....my personal ministries. They aren't big.........just things God has given me to take care of. Sometimes that feels insignificant, especially when the "fruit" of these actions is not obvious. And, when I see really "big" things happening in Christianity, my callings seem trivial and unimportant sometimes.
But they're not. God has many, many things going on in this world. The end results are sometimes nothing we see, but God does. He knows His plans, He knows the reasons, and He knows the outcome. Our job is to obey, seek His will, and be willing to be "insignificant" or "trivial" for Him.
The truth is, nothing in regard to the Kingdom is insignificant or trivial. A stick of gum at church may seem that way, but we have no idea what that one act might accomplish in someone else's life. My pastor gave an example of a snowy Sunday at a small church. The pastor was unable to come to deliver the sermon that day, and there was only one deacon present. That deacon had never preached a sermon in his life, and was very apprehensive about doing so. Yet, since he was the only one available to do it, the deacon delivered a sermon that morning. Pretty small thing to do, huh? And yet because he did so, God used that act to help bring another person to Himself that day. That person was Charles Spurgeon, known as "The Prince of Preachers" in the 20th century.
Because we have been so fortunate to be a part of God's family here on earth, we are all called to do something for Him. I will not be another Beth Moore. I'm pretty sure I will not be called to start a world-wide ministry. But there are things I am supposed to do while here on earth. Things that will encourage others, help further Christ's kingdom, and make a difference. If I sit around doing nothing, waiting on the BIG ministry to fall in my lap, what opportunities are being missed? What person is losing the chance to know Christ because I'm not satisfied with a 'small' job? That's just it. Nothing's small when done with the right attitude, an open heart, and a love for Christ.
So go ahead. Pass out that gum. Make a quilt. Love someone who doesn't deserve it. And know this.....any act given in Christ's name with the right attitude, is never insignificant.
-1 Corinthians 10:31
"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."
- Mark 12:41-44
A retreat is being planned in Aurora for the fall. It's a two day Beth Moore study (I'll post more about that later). I am always amazed at how Beth can make the Word come alive. How she gleans meaning from text I never even thought about before. I can only imagine the hours she puts in to her teaching. Many, many people have been touched by her ministry.
There are so many huge ministries in the world. From worldwide ministries like Convoy of Hope to bands like Casting Crowns, huge things are being done for the cause of Christ. I wonder how many people were touched by the movie "God's Not Dead"? Numerous "famous" preachers like Billy Graham or Charles Stanley provide hope and growth for millions of people. Great and glorious things being done to lead others to a life in Christ. Sometimes I find myself in awe of all the "big" things being done in God's name.
Lately, I have been feeling very insignificant in the area of what I should be doing for the kingdom. I believe there is always something to do, and I think I am a bit lazy when it comes to working for Christ. I have a bit of a depressive personality, and I look at these huge ministries and
think what I might do is absolutely nothing compared to those.
And then I read the scripture from Mark 12 above. The widow had nothing. But she gave what she had. She gave sacrificially. Although that scripture is talking about offering, it can also relate to our work we do. It tells me it's not about the volume or scope of what we do.....it's about the heart that does it.
In the July issue of 'In Touch' magazine, Carol Barnier wrote an article titled "In All Ways, In Small Ways". Barnier writes:
" We want to be a good witness to others. As believers, it's part of our longing, our calling, and our obedience. Yet, when we think of being good disciples who follow Christ with abandon and work for the kingdom, we typically imagine ourselves doing something big and impressive like running an orphanage starting a soup kitchen working at a shelter for battered women. And there is nothing wrong with such choices. In fact, many of the major charitable movements over the centuries were born out of Christian values, community, and action. But oftentimes Jesus is best served in small ways. In the daily routines of life and the myriad to-dos and activities we perform, we have the chance to interact with those around us."
She tells of a woman who used her love for quilting as a ministry, when she went to the home of a mother of 8 children after her husband had passed away. She asked for the man's clothing so she could make each child a quilt to remember their father by. In another story, she tells of the funeral of a Haitian woman. The mourners kept telling of difficult and joyful experiences they had had which were ministered to by a home-baked cake made by this woman. She made cakes for every occasion, sharing her Jesus with them in the process. Then there was the "Gum Lady", a woman in a church where she grew up. This woman did not have a lot, but she always had a pocket full of chewing gum. All the kids knew they could go to her for a stick of gum. Visitors were taken to the "gum lady" for a welcome and a piece of gum. She gave many children a sense of belonging at church by this simple act. Although there's no mention of quilts, gum, and cakes in the Bible, I suspect these acts in His name put a smile on our Savior's face.
I know that I have a few things which are important that I do. I feel God has verified to me these are priorities for me.....my personal ministries. They aren't big.........just things God has given me to take care of. Sometimes that feels insignificant, especially when the "fruit" of these actions is not obvious. And, when I see really "big" things happening in Christianity, my callings seem trivial and unimportant sometimes.
But they're not. God has many, many things going on in this world. The end results are sometimes nothing we see, but God does. He knows His plans, He knows the reasons, and He knows the outcome. Our job is to obey, seek His will, and be willing to be "insignificant" or "trivial" for Him.
The truth is, nothing in regard to the Kingdom is insignificant or trivial. A stick of gum at church may seem that way, but we have no idea what that one act might accomplish in someone else's life. My pastor gave an example of a snowy Sunday at a small church. The pastor was unable to come to deliver the sermon that day, and there was only one deacon present. That deacon had never preached a sermon in his life, and was very apprehensive about doing so. Yet, since he was the only one available to do it, the deacon delivered a sermon that morning. Pretty small thing to do, huh? And yet because he did so, God used that act to help bring another person to Himself that day. That person was Charles Spurgeon, known as "The Prince of Preachers" in the 20th century.
Because we have been so fortunate to be a part of God's family here on earth, we are all called to do something for Him. I will not be another Beth Moore. I'm pretty sure I will not be called to start a world-wide ministry. But there are things I am supposed to do while here on earth. Things that will encourage others, help further Christ's kingdom, and make a difference. If I sit around doing nothing, waiting on the BIG ministry to fall in my lap, what opportunities are being missed? What person is losing the chance to know Christ because I'm not satisfied with a 'small' job? That's just it. Nothing's small when done with the right attitude, an open heart, and a love for Christ.
So go ahead. Pass out that gum. Make a quilt. Love someone who doesn't deserve it. And know this.....any act given in Christ's name with the right attitude, is never insignificant.
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