Finish Your Work

I've never seen a time more critical than now for Christian love and service. Every single day, everywhere I turn, I see others with physical, emotional and spiritual needs that break my heart.  The desire to help can seem overwhelming at times.  How can I possibly meet every need that is presented to me?  The answer is that I can't, and neither can you.  But that's ok, because God never intended for me - or you - to do it all.

I'm encouraged by the following Billy Graham quote from one of his crusades: "My prayer is that God will accomplish what He wants to accomplish in this crusade. When Jesus Christ had finished His whole life, He hadn't fed everybody. He hadn't healed everybody. He hadn't solved the problems of the world or of His own country. But He said, 'I have finished the work that you gave me to do.' And I believe that He has a work for us to do here."

Our model for service is Jesus!  In His humanity, He had many earthly limitations of time and resources, just as we do.  But even more importantly, He had work God had planned especially for Him since the beginning of time.

God doesn't want us to be paralyzed or uncertain as we serve Him. He has equipped, empowered, and enlightened each of us for a purpose, for Kingdom work that we can accomplish in love to make a difference while we're here on Earth. As author Henry Blackaby has said, God is always at work and it's up to each of us to pay attention and join Him when He asks.

What is your work to do today? Encourage a friend with a visit, note or call? Deliver a meal to a family in need? Give up your recreation time or money to be the hands and feet of Jesus to someone who doesn't think God cares? Use your technical ability to help a neighbor with her computer problem? Speak out for injustice using the words you've been given?  The possibilities as God reveals them to you are endless, and your kindness and compassion in fulfilling your call will speak volumes to those you serve. 

Actively listen for God's voice and watch for His invitation to finish the work you've been given to do.

Maslow & Me

What a weird thing to wake up thinking of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, but that's exactly what was on my mind yesterday as I got out of bed! You may remember learning about it from psychology or sociology class ... or maybe not. Anyway, it looks like this and the gist of it is that the bottom levels of the pyramid represent basic human needs that must be fulfilled before people can move on to concern about the higher pyramind levels.

"A rich person isn't one who has the most, but one who needs the least," reads a very simple, beige and black, tin plaque that hangs in the guest bathroom of our home. Ironically, this house cost more than any other place we've ever lived! In our defense, it's not a particularly "fancy" place, but the lake view is spectacular and it seemed, at the time we had it built, a safe place to park some investment money in hopes of multiplying it later when the kids are gone and we sell it for retirement. We do agree that our final retirement place will be much smaller and simpler, and hopefully, mortgage free.

My mind churns fearfully these days - thinking about friends who've been out of work for so long and are unable to meet some of their basic needs, the uncertainty of my husband's industry and what that would mean to us if he lost his job, and the importance of living more simply so we are prepared not only to provide for our own family, but also so we're able to help others.

I suppose after having enjoyed an extended, blessed and luxurious time of dwelling at the top of Maslow's pyramid, I really don't want to go back down to the bottom again. Who would?

What I know for sure is this: today is all that's certain. I thank God for where my circumstances stand in it. Maybe Maslow's appearance yesterday was to remind me to use my resources and blessings wisely - each day. Lest I forget, to whom much is given, much is expected ....