September 15, 2018

Watch Your Motives

Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. – Psalm 101:5

There’s always that one person. You know who I’m talking about. It’s the one who is constantly jockeying for position. The one who simply must be in charge. The one who is convinced that he or she knows more than anyone else. In Jesus’ name, of course.

It’s almost comical but, really, it’s just so sad. They miss the opportunity to be part of a team. They miss the chance to share ideas and, maybe, come up with something even better. They miss the comradery that comes when you work together to glorify God.

But it’s not about glorifying God. It’s about being in charge. It’s about looking good. It’s about me, my, I. It’s about power and ego.

A man began a good work. He went into the county jail and ministered to the men who were incarcerated there. How wonderful! It’s what the Bible tells us to do. I want to believe he was sincere in the beginning. I choose to believe he truly was called and it really was about Jesus.

But somewhere along the path, it became about him. “He” saved people. “He” was in charge. I once had a conversation with him about the ministry. Really, it was more about me listening and him talking. He never once mentioned Jesus or God or the Holy Spirit. He didn’t even mention the inmates. All he talked about was himself and the good he was doing. It was just sad.

A woman took over a ministry at church. She was certainly qualified on the skill level. It seemed like a perfect fit. And, in some ways, it is. But it’s not about leading others to Christ. It isn’t about growing in faith or deepening our relationship with Him or even each other.

It’s about growing her business as she constantly invites attendees to her store. It’s about “her” students and “her” choices. It’s about the pretty baskets and the gossip and the fun. She’s invited so many people but it’s pretty obvious she hasn’t invited Jesus. What a wasted opportunity.

Did you pick up on that word I mentioned? Gossip. Both of these people are all about gossip. They’re just telling the “facts.” They’re just passing on a prayer request. They’re just sharing useful “information.” But it’s all the same thing: they’re talking badly about others in an effort to turn those who listen against someone else or, at the least, cause others to think badly of someone.

And they’re using Jesus’ name to do it. I know. This is one of my buttons, if you will. Don’t use Jesus to try and justify your sin. Just don’t. It doesn’t matter if it’s gossip, slander, looking down on the poor, or being cruel to people who are different. Jesus isn’t in any of that. He isn’t.

Now that we’ve talked about someone else – without naming names of course – what do you do when you’re there with them? Do you ignore it and just do your thing? Do you listen but refuse to comment? Do you join in because you want to be part of the group? Peer pressure isn’t limited to adolescents. It’s alive and well among adults.

It’s not easy to call someone out for gossiping. It’s not easy to refuse to be part of something that is wrong. Yet that’s what we are called to do. Do you have the strength of character to tell someone not to talk publicly about another? Or are you too afraid of what they might say about you behind your back?

The man I mentioned earlier? Well, God caused him to lose his hearing for a time and he no longer participates in that ministry. When we behave badly, God will do what He must to get us back to where He wants us to be. Every time.

June 15, 2018

Jesus Gives Us Hope

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

– 2 Corinthians 4:5

We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

– 2 Corinthians 4:10

It’s all about the ministry. We need volunteers. Everyone needs to pitch in. There are never enough people to do the work. As a Christian, we must participate in Kingdom work.

What exactly does that look like? Does it mean you must serve on two or more committees? Does it mean you must volunteer to pass out bulletins, rock babies in the nursery, be a chaperone on a youth trip? Maybe all of those and maybe none of them.

We can get so caught up in the busyness of serving Christ that we forget it’s not really about us. It’s about Jesus. It’s not about how many hours we volunteer or how much time we spend in Bible study. It’s about how we live our lives as we go about our daily activities.

There are so many people around us living without hope. What do they see when they look at us? Are we part of the chorus condemning them or are we kneeling beside them, offering them a lifeline called Jesus?

Or maybe we’re struggling under the weight of our own burdens. We’re worried about health issues, finances, wayward kids, job insecurities or any number of other things. We forget that it’s not up to us. Surely, we’re to do our part. But it’s the power of Christ within us that makes the seemingly impossible, possible.

We say we believe that, but do we really? We worry and stress about things we can’t control. It’s as though we don’t really trust God to make a way. We’re so busy scrambling that we miss His voice, His outstretched hand, His guiding light.

And we lose hope. We know it isn’t possible to do life on our own. We need something, someone, who can be depended on to help. Jesus. We need Jesus. And we need to share Him with this hurting world.

The message of Jesus, of hope, of light when all around us seems dark, is far bigger than we could ever be. God loves us. Really. Truly. He loves us. So much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins and to be resurrected so that those who believe could live with Him forever. How awesome is that?!

Your life is your ministry. It’s not about committees or church attendance. Those things are great but what matters most is your heart. Do others – your family, co-workers, neighbors, friends – see the light inside of you reflecting outward? Are you sharing your hope?

And do you realize this earth isn’t your home? That’s a big one. Because we act sometimes like we’re going to live forever, like we believe all those things we possess are more important than anything else. Or anyone else. That’s just sad.

Jesus is coming back one day. Those of us who believe in Him will live forever with Him. That’s our hope on dark days. That’s our guarantee no matter what this world brings. Share it. Every day live a life that shows others the light of Jesus. That’s your ministry.

February 3, 2018

Check Your Motives

A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. – Proverbs 21:2

I was shocked. Surprised. And so very disappointed. How could someone use a ministry to drum up business for their friends? It was just so wrong.

This woman, someone I considered a dear friend, had used information I gave her to benefit others. She took flowers to someone with a sick daughter and then proceeded to hand her a business card and try to convince her to use a specific hospice organization.

I had already told her I wasn’t going to do it. I explained that the choice was for the family to make. I even went further to say that there are many wonderful hospice groups and that the woman needed to make the decision in conjunction with the medical personnel and her family.

So my friend took matters into her own hands.

I’m sure she would call herself justified. She always thinks she’s right about these things. She doesn’t yet know how deeply she has damaged our friendship.

It isn’t the first time I have thought she should spend more time with God and less time volunteering. I criticized myself for the thought. Who am I to judge? Who am I to even think about pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye? And yet our pastor last Sunday admonished us to speak up, to stir things up, not to be a doormat when it comes to challenging things that we know are wrong.

“When giving is from a heart whose real motivation is what we’re hoping to get in return, it’s not really love at all.” – Lisa Terkeurst

I’m sure my friend will tell me she was just doing a good deed. Each Monday she takes the alter flowers and turns them into small bouquets that she takes to the sick, the frail, the shut-ins. It really is a wonderful ministry and people love the thoughtfulness of their church thinking of them.

Any extra flowers she takes to those in hospice. That, too, is a wonderful thing. It means a great deal to those who are suffering to receive that small bit of sunshine.

The line gets crossed when that ministry gets used as an opportunity to promote business. It sours the good deed and turns it into something else entirely. Shame on anyone who thinks that’s okay.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Reach Out Like Jesus

As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

-- Matthew 14:15-16

We’re really quick to point out what someone else needs to do. We’re not so quick to step up and do it ourselves.

A few months ago several people mentioned a woman plagued with multiple health issues. Our church delivers meals one night a week to the homebound and she had ended up on the list. She isn’t a church member but she is in need. Besides, she pays for her meal.

As often happens, her health issues have gotten worse. Now she requires dialysis three days a week -- but she doesn’t have transportation. Somehow that need has ended up with me.

It shouldn’t. I’ve talked with her a few times on the telephone. I don’t really know her. And goodness knows I’ve already got more than I can get done. But no one else is doing anything and she hasn’t been able to find transportation on her own.

Naturally, I’ve stepped on a few toes. We’ve got a transportation committee within the church. Or so I was told. I called a couple of members. No one was available or seemed inclined to help find someone else.

There’s also a committee that deals with outreach and such things. Fine. I’ll be glad to have them take care of her needs. Oh. No. There’s no one who could do that sort of thing.

So here we are again. People want credit for doing good without actually doing anything. And somebody else’s problem isn’t their concern. Especially if they don’t know the person. Especially if the person isn’t a member of the church. And especially if it isn’t anybody important.

But, you see, she is important. To Jesus. To me. To all those who understand that she is one of the least of these that Jesus referred to when He told us what to do. She needs help, not from some nameless person who might emerge to take over but from those of us who see a need and try to be Jesus for her.

She told me the other night that she’d about lost hope. Her burdens are so great and she is so alone. Why are we here if not to meet her where she is and help her as we can? It’s what Jesus would do. And it’s what we should do.

So stop crumbling and complaining. Stop worrying about committees and assignments and who’s a member or not. When you see a need, don’t pass it off to someone else when you can help. You do it. You be Jesus’ hands and feet.