Doing Over Being

Luke 10: ³⁸ Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

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Upon arrival I immediately went to work. I balanced the books, input all receipts by giver and drew up plans for a new parking lot. When I went home I wondered what the sermon was about. I had missed it because I was too busy to listen.

• There have been many times when I was extremely busy “doing” church.
• There have been many times when I thought “the more I serve the closer to GOD I will be.”
• Three have been many times when I believed that other people were lazy, selfish, ungiving people who needed to get off their butts and simply serve.

Martha wanted her house a certain way, and she was probably extra careful when a special guest was around. JESUS was that special guest and she had to have everything right. BUT HE said something strange to her. Mary, who was sitting at HIS feet worshiping, had chosen the right thing to do.

• JESUS wants me to stay away from burn out types of service.
• JESUS wants me to simply worship HIM so I can serve cheerfully.
• JESUS wants me to slow down so I can hear HIM and when HE fills me up, then I can go back to serving.

There is nothing worse than grumpy service. When I serve people, it is not just the act that counts, it is the heart. GOD wants me to serve with my heart rather than just with action. But sometimes my heart is filled with the wrong things which can taint my service and I get no reward from HIM for my grumpy service.

GOD wants me to ask for a clean heart first so I can serve others the way HE wants mt to. HE wants me to put HIM first, then HE will guide me to serve those who I feel do not deserve being served.

• Are you serving people in a burned out state?
• Do you judge others in what they are “not” doing?
• Can you ask GOD for a heart filled with grace so you can truly desire the best for even your enemies?
• Will you put “grace” over service today?

Is Service to GOD Temporary?

1 Chronicles: ³¹ As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was their chief according to the genealogical records of their families. In the fortieth year of David’s reign a search was made in the records, and capable men among the Hebronites were found at Jazer in Gilead. 

³² Jeriah had twenty-seven hundred relatives, who were able men and heads of families, and King David put them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.

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After returning from the church convention, I felt I should be doing “something.” I mean shouldn’t I be going out and preaching and teaching? I had just publicly announced I was following GOD and I wanted to get started!

A few years later I ran into problems. I didn’t like the people who were supposed to be followers of GOD and I stopped going to church.

• Some circumstances make me question “Why do I follow GOD?”
• Some situations make me question “Does GOD really care?”
• Some lengthy trials make me ask “Why serve if all I get is punishment?”

Each of my questions had to be answered by “maturity” in GOD. HE never said life would be easy. In fact HE said there would be many trials. HE warned HIS disciples that the world would hate them and people who follow HIM would go through many trials and tribulations.

• GOD wants me to know HE loves me and strengthens me to handle trials.
• GOD wants me to understand HIS power even in the midst of chaos.
• GOD wants me to trust HIS ways and allow difficult situations to pass in order to see HIS perfect plan unfold.

Following GOD is not a temporary thing. Once I chose to follow HIM I became a new creation. The battle began. HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT in me and now my eyes are open to when I choose to do right and wrong. I still sin, but JESUS is my advocate and HE encourages me to get up and serve again.

• Are you trying to manipulate GOD by being good?
• Are you getting burnt out by serving GOD?
• Can you evaluate whether you are serving GOD or are you trying to get accolades from humans?
• Can you stop trying so hard and just “be” with GOD?

Want a blessing today?

Deuteronomy 15: ¹⁰ Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. ¹¹ There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

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Sitting in the “counselors” chair a homeless person sat across from me and had to hear the “Gospel of CHRIST” from me. He wreaked of booze but was coherent enough to answer my questions. During our anticipated and somewhat robotic conversation it dawned on me… I wasn’t getting through to him so I asked those in charge, “Do we really have to give this guy some food?”

• When I serve with a grudging heart, I am not at my best.
• When I give out of obligation I hurl my money at the need in a tantrum.
• When I expect a monetary blessing because I have served, I may be on the road to manipulation instead of gratitude.

Poor people will always be around me GOD says. HE wants to bless me, but sometimes I see what this person is going to do with “my” money and I become the judge and jury and provide a verdict that is not favorable for the person standing in front of me. I mean this person is a drunk and that person is a drug addict and that person won’t stop being whatever they are being. I mean shouldn’t “my” money go to someone who “deserves” it?

• GOD says to me “judge not and I won’t judge you.”
• GOD says to me “look beyond the messy person I delivered to you and give them your best.”
• GOD says to me “I know you are weary from giving but my grace is sufficient.”

Sometimes it’s hard to give because I am either not seeing the change I want to see fast enough or the ocean of people seems too great for “my” power. I may feel overwhelmed because the need seems too great. BUT GOD says to me “do what you can with what I have blessed you with for I have many servants.”

I must trust that GOD has plenty and that I am only one of many distribution points for HIS wealth. Yes, the wealth is not mine but HIS and HE wants to do with it as HE pleases.

• Are you giving with a grudging heart?
• Are you serving out of expectation from GOD?
• Can you give and serve without expecting something from GOD?
• Won’t you trust that HE will bless you the way HE wants to bless you, when HE wants to bless you?

Threatening GOD

Deuteronomy 1: ²⁹ Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. ³⁰ The Lord your God will go ahead of you. He will fight for you. With your own eyes you saw how he fought for you in Egypt.

³¹ “You also saw how the Lord your God brought you through the desert. He carried you everywhere you went, just as a father carries his son. And now you have arrived here.”

³² In spite of that, you didn’t trust in the Lord your God.

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For months our lives were put on hold.  Every decision was based on the possibility of moving to a new city “if” I got the top position in the company. I felt extremely nervous during the interview and did not get the position. I do remember pouting.

“LORD, what’s the purpose of being ‘good’ if nothing comes out of it? I’m done serving!” I said during my tantrum. Little did I know HE had much better things in mind for me and I was busy making HIM an enemy!

• When I have trials placed in front of me I sometimes pout.
• When I have obstacles placed in front of me I sometimes kick and scream at GOD.
• When I am not getting “my” way I sometimes throw a tantrum, threatening GOD in the process.

Like a four year old who wants to run away from home I looked around and realized, where will I go? I mean everything and everywhere and everyone is HIS. You would think I would become rational at that realization. Instead I thought, “well, YOU are GOD, of course ‘YOU’ would say don’t be terrified and don’t be afraid, but I’m human what can I do?”

• GOD says “TRUST in the LORD with all your heart in all your ways and do not lean to your own understanding.”
• GOD says “Put aside childish things” and “have faith in your GOD for I delivered you.”
• GOD says “the fear of GOD is the beginning of wisdom.”

In other words, why am I yelling at GOD for not getting my way?  GOD has a better plan that I could never dream up.  HIS ways are solid and I can be free to be “me”, not what everyone expects me to be. I don’t have to threaten HIM or coerce HIM into getting something I probably didn’t want in the first place.

GOD knows what’s best. HE wants a solid “trust” from me. I Believe!

• Do you doubt GOD?
• Are you ready to throw in the towel because life is getting difficult?
• Why do you have to be convinced over and over that GOD is faithful?
• Won’t you get rid of you pride of needing GOD to prove HIMSELF and show HIM your trust?

How long should I serve?

Numbers 8: ²⁵ “But when they reach the age of 50, they must not work any longer. They must stop doing their regular work. ²⁶ They can help their brothers with their duties at the Tent of Meeting. But they themselves should not do the work. That is how you must direct the Levites to do their work.”

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Driving to the church, I realized I hadn’t even noticed the new buildings in the neighborhood. In fact I had my usual route and I had not noticed anything about the neighborhood. I was busy running all the facts and figures of the “church building” in my mind.

Upon arrival the same people would be there waiting with questions or complaints. Didn’t they know I had other concerns to think about? This ministry would be great if it weren’t for the people!

• Sometimes I forget that ministry is for people.
• Sometimes I lose my dedication to the ministry I’m in.
• Sometimes I get too comfortable with a ministry and put it on auto-pilot.

Looking back on the times I have served it seems I was most effective when I was uncomfortable in my service and it was new and fresh.  My conversations with the LORD were fervent and I had more questions than answers. But when I have served a while in the ministry I have all the reasons why something will or will NOT work.

• GOD wants me to serve HIM my entire life but transition some of the duties to others.
• GOD wants me to remain effective so I may have to change my ministry.
• GOD wants me to have faith in HIM not faith in my performance.

Be careful when looking at this passage of scripture. Keep your job and work until the LORD says so. I do question my effectiveness when my ministry becomes the same old ministry. GOD wants me to stay fresh.

• Are you serving in the same old capacity and its draining?
• Do you hear GOD or are you listening to yourself?
• Are you helping someone else take over the ministry or do you feel you are the only one?
• Is it time for you to do another ministry?