Called to Be Comfortable…
My congregation volunteers every 3rd Friday of each month at Ruth and Naomi’s Mission in down town Chilliwack. We prepare and serve a meal and deliver a message from the Bible. It is one of my duties to recruit volunteers to cook, serve and deliver the message. I am there almost every time, and I have cooked and served, but I have never delivered the message. Why?.. Hi my name is Ryan and I am an introvert. 🙂
I am fine to do 1 on 1 evangelism, but to stand in front of 30 or 40 people and tell them the good news? That is not me – or is it? After some prodding from a few people it was decided it was time I finally deliver the message. It went well and I was not nearly as nervous as I thought I would be. In fact it almost felt natural (almost) – which surprised me.
Since growing in my faith life and becoming more involved in the church I have discovered a couple things.
First: Through faith in Jesus’ atoning sacrifice we truly do find peace which surpasses all understanding. We gain contentment and joy in any situation in the infinite and all-satisfying worth of God. Worry, anxiety and fear should not be a part of us anymore – knowing that God has a design and guides all things in His providence.
Second: We are called to suffer. We are not called to a life of comfort and prosperity. We are called not to sit at home and sip wine and watch tv. We called to use our gifts for God’s glory, and our neighbours benefit. How are you glorifying God and building up his church?
Third that as we use our gifts, or seek to serve God, God will use you in ways you may never have expected.
Don’t think you have a gifting? Or perhaps you think that your talent will not help anyone or anything? Do you feel that your gift is being stifled by the church? If so, perhaps God is calling you to something else. Christians should seek out various opportunities to serve within the church. As we attempt different things and do so in prayer and in faith, believing that God will lead us, that he is in control, we may find that he will reveal passion and talents in ways we may not expect. I never thought I would ever be able to lead a group in prayer or bible study, yet it is becoming much more natural and I actually enjoy it now. What better way to build up the church than by humbly seeking God with others?
There is a risk in doing only those things that we are comfortable with or serving only in the ways we think we are most talented. Because if we only seek one way to serve and it is shot down or we are not satisfied, then we may give up or get discouraged. I could have very easily become discouraged when my ideas for accountability networks were “shot down.” Instead, in prayer I sought other ways of serving Him. Just because YOU think you are talented in one way, or not talented in another way – does not mean that God thinks the same thing. Think of Moses, a timid, stuttering man called to lead an entire nation or the apostle Paul with his “thorn in his flesh.” These men were called to suffer and were greatly used by God.
God does not always gift us in ways we are comfortable with or in ways we might expect. Attempt different ways to serve you will be surprised how God blesses you and the church.
Called to be comfortable…not. Get out of your comfort zone.
How are you serving?
Philippians 2:1-4
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
