If I am being poured out as a
drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and
rejoice with you all. —Philippians 2:17
{CHAMBERS} “Are you willing
to sacrifice yourself for the work of another believer—to pour out your life
sacrificially for the ministry and faith of others? Or do you say, “I am not
willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t want God to tell me how to
serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own sacrifice. And I want to have
certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well done.’ ” It is one thing to follow
God’s way of service if you are regarded as a hero, but quite another thing if
the road marked out for you by God requires becoming a “doormat” under other
people’s feet. God’s purpose may be to teach you to say, “I know how to be
abased…” (Philippians 4:12). Are you ready to be sacrificed like that? Are you
ready to be less than a mere drop in the bucket— to be so totally insignificant
that no one remembers you even if they think of those you served? Are you
willing to give and be poured out until you are used up and exhausted— not
seeking to be ministered to, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work
while maintaining a saintly attitude, because they feel such service is beneath
their dignity.”
{ELGIN} Strange as this may sound, but I feel that I am being most
effective in serving God and others when I am not recognized for the work I do. If I need to be recognized then I am having a
pride problem. I often say “If you want
to give me credit for anything ..then give me credit for saying yes to God.” When Paul was responding about the people who
were saying “I am of Paul or I am of Apollos” (or it might be I am a Baptist or
I am a Methodist or I am a “fill in the blank”)
Paul said (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
“What, after all, is Apollos?
And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord
has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither
the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who
waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own
labor. For we are co-workers in God’s
service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” If we are serving God then how can we take credit
for what is accomplished. God is the
Source … it’s God who calls .. it’s God who equips … it’s God who sends …. it’s
God who brings the eternal benefit. We
are merely the messengers …. Field hands.
On the other hand, don’t let
that truth become a reason for you to NOT serve. Looking at your life in comparison to others,
you may ask, “What can I bring to the table? What can I do?” The answer is,
trust God, submit to His Spirit, go where He says go and do what He says do, knowing
that God brings the increase not you. It’s
obedience that God prefers over sacrifice. (1 Samuel 15:22) “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD
delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To
obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (Hosea 6:6)
“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather
than burnt offerings.” As I am typing
this, Martie, my wife, read a quote from the head coach of the Philadelphia
Eagles after winning the Super Bowl, “I give all the glory to Jesus Christ.” It does not matter if you are a missionary or
a football coach or ride on the back of a garbage truck. As Christians we know that it is God who deserves
the credit for any good that comes from our lives. Don't let your ego tell you otherwise.
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