After working in full-time ministry for 10 years, and now not working within a ministry full time, I struggle with feelings of validation, of making a direct difference in the world and often question if I am doing enough for God or doing enough important stuff for God.
This leads me to the question: How can one's life, or the work they do be more important than another's in God's eyes?
I remember being asked to speak to a large group of missionary students in a developing country. These men and women would soon be will planting churches, enduring hardships and facing physical opposition, maybe even martyrdom. My job was to raise money and awareness for them and their families so they could eat, have a home and well, be missionaries. My job was not as exciting as theirs one could say, or as visible, but who would argue which job was more important. How about the people that supported my family while we did our work to support their families?
Looking at scripture, I read:
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable. (1 Corinthians 12)
If we are interconnected as one body, we are all interconnected in ministry. I think this means working together as one. Mother Teresa said that sometimes we have to do the small things so God can do the big things.
Going on, in Romans 12: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
What I learn from this is I must guard against trying to validate myself and just participate (be the part of the body I am) as I am led by His Spirit in other people's lives. We belong to one another.
Sometimes this participation is a cup of cold water, making a brochure, or changing a poopy diaper. It could be in Calcutta or in Crystal Lake. Sometimes the picture is clear how we all connect, but we look through a glass dimly and catch glimpses of the big picture mostly from the rear-view mirror.
Is it possible that as I aim towards where my great passion and where the worlds great need intersect, I will be doing what I need to be doing as long as I listen to the love of God in my life? Being me? I think so.
What negates all of this? If I put my passion or call for mission or ministry before people, before love. If a calling or vision to get a job done becomes more important than the people I am doing it with, becomes more important than my family the word of God is clear on that—it profits me nothing. (1 Cor. 13)
Mother Teresa said that faithfulness is more important than success. When we stand before God on judgment day will He say, "well done my good and successful servant?" No, He will say, "well done my good and faithful servant."
"Now abide in these three, faith hope and love, but the greatest of these is love."
More thoughts on Body life at this link
7 comments:
So true, my friend. And on this day of poopy diapers, a five-year old "accident," a forgotten preschool snack, and a husband's delayed plane, this somehow encourages me!
having a body that doesn't always work the way it should gives me such an appreciation of these passages - one muscle, one disc, one bone spur, a surgery or two and you begin to understand how necessary it is for each to do its designated part even when it is never seen and appreciated only when it doesnt' work right.
Wow... this sounds like what I was trying to think through and understand when I called the other day. I'm glad I finally checked out your blog.
LM, glad to be an encouragement to you
Halfmom, thanks for stopping in. How necessary and beautiful is this unity and how we do long to be complete. You are right. Stopped in at your blog and loved the photo of you and your daughter. Her first year teaching?
CJ, I love you sis. Now if I can only live out and feel what I write. Did you read Isaiah 58?
Hello! Coming your way via Craver's. I was pulled in to what you had to say about being wounded, and just kept reading down to here. Lots in common.
I just wanted to say, I am a missionary, but took part in a blog tour with thehighcalling.org, because I believe work, any work, is a calling and even a high calling. I wanted people to know that my role is no more important than anyone else who sees their life as a way to serve Christ and further His kingdom. Sometimes, missionaries get the glory, but I think it should go to those who work in whatever capacity they have been gifted whether they receive recognition or not. Besides, I know too much about missionaries (with links to the "wounded and hurting" posts), so I know better. I'm sure having been in ministry, you know what I'm talking about.
Blessings. I'm enjoying your posts. I lived in California (West Covina) and Texas (Liberty Hill), too!
Stacy, glad you stopped by and thanks for your comments, they mean a lot. Glad you have enjoyed my posts and feel like you can understand these issues—felt so blindsided when it all happened.
God is good at the "beauty from ashes" thing, and I am glad.
So you lived in TX and CA too, how cool. Where are you now? I look forward in reading your blog and hearing more about you and your faith journey.
What other blogs do you refer to when you say "the wounded and hurting" posts? I would be interested in reading them.
Coram Deo
I'm in Taiwan now. But we've also lived in Mainland China and Thailand. I also have links to Missouri (college) and Florida (teaching). I know. I've been around. ha!
by "links" to wounded and hurting, I meant commonalities, not actual site links. ha! I see how that was confusing. My thought was that there are many in ministry who work their own agendas and step on others to do so. It's hard to take when you're idealistic about your work! I know, I know. I shouldn't be... but missionary work... it just seems like it should be above that stuff! But we're human.
You're right about the beauty from ashes. I cling to that promise!
Blessings!
Post a Comment