Contentment in doing whatever I can do

 

 

READ 2 Corinthians 5-8

When Christ took me into His kingdom, I was extremely ambitious with many interests and eager to try new things, something like an untamed horse turned into a lush pasture. I wanted to be everything that God asked for and do it perfectly.

That changed. I remember reading something by Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian martyred for his faith. He said that he felt like a pretzel when God taught him first to keep his mouth shut — then to open it only when God wanted him to speak.

This principle hit my life and because I am stubborn and determined to do well, it has taken me a long time to learn that God wants my skills and abilities to be used for Him, by Him, and when He wants them used, or even if He wants them used. I learned that His idea of skill did not match mine and He measures success differently than I do. Learning to shut up is always a challenge. So is learning to listen to God. I’m better than before, but still have flaws and failures in listening, never mind the obedience part.

Yet over the years, the Lord has taken away much of that human striving and much of my ambitions and interests, teaching me to listen to Him, realizing His ways are different from mine. I feel that I ‘never do enough’ but He keeps reminding me that He is able to work with whatever anyone does, big or small. For instance, a small boy offered fives loaves and two fish — and Jesus used that little bit to feed a multitude.

At the moment, world events have me again thinking that ‘I must do something’ and the unbelief all around me often pressures me into thinking ‘I must do something’ — and I’m anxious because I don’t have the skills or the wherewithal to do anything about either situation. That is a hard reality for someone who had a track record of rising to the occasion. It is also difficult for those who have never had many personal resources. Both realities keep me in prayer. Even though I cannot do something, nothing is too hard for God!

This morning, I read this passage with one line in it that explains what God expects of His people, regardless of what we have or do not have. It is in the context of giving money, but the principle applies to any sort of Christian service . . .

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. (2 Corinthians 8:1–12)

God never expected me to be like Billy Graham, or Mother Teresa, or any other spiritual ‘giant’ in His kingdom. He accepts what I do according to what I have and according to the needs that I can meet. Some of my skills are not beneficial for building faith or comforting those who suffer. One or two are useful to God. Focus on that and match that focus with completion, not giving up in discouragement because it doesn’t seem like what I do is enough or important enough. Let God decide that!

Lord, help me discern the difference between my old ambitions (which may have been a blessing to me) and Your zeal for doing whatever brings You glory and brings blessing to others. And give me faith that my five loaves and two fish are enough for Your purposes — may I be content with that.