The Ministry of Receiving
We live in a society which values a person based on his or her ability to produce and the quality of that production. This is taught to us in school, by the type of grades we receive or by the number of goals we score. This is taught to us as workers, by the amount of money we bring into our businesses or by the number of clients we see in a day. We are taught that the ability to produce high numbers and do well is what is valuable and this attitude seems to penetrate into our own personal ministries as well.
Most of us attribute the word “ministry” with the call to action. In order to minister, we see ourselves as the one who must be doing “the doing”. We find ourselves delivering a meal to a friend in need, distributing communion to the elderly, setting up tables at a church fundraiser, or singing in a choir…and this is all good. This “doing” feels good and we are helping others.
Yet there is another type of ministry- often the hardest kind - that most of us don’t consider. It is the "ministry of receiving" - a ministry that each one of us is called to at different times in our lives. We may be “laid up” because we break a leg, have an appendectomy, give birth to a child, or experience the death of a loved one. These are all moments when we are asked to stop “the doing”. This is difficult for many of us because we live in a world where our value is measured by our ability to “do”. It is challenging to just stop and be. It is difficult for us who believe somewhere deep in our cores that even God’s love rests on our ability to “do good” for Him. Yet, if we are able to submit to the circumstances in our time of need, open our hearts to ask and receive, then we will find God’s grace dwelling greatly there.
When I had my fourth child, I learned this lesson of "receiving". My first three children were born in St. Louis, where I had family surrounding me...and family "just helped". It was easy. Yet, when our fourth child came, we were no longer in St.Louis. We were in Omaha with no family. I was now in a new position of having to reach beyond "family", ask for help and receive. This was hard at first, but I decided that I would trust and say "yes" to every meal that was offered. When two were brought, I put one in the freezer. I prayed that if we had “extras” that the Lord would send someone my way to pass the food onto... and He always did. One night, we had two people bring us a meal. The next day, I had a friend call who was in need. Her husband had just lost his job and she was distraught and overwhelmed. I was able to give the extra meal to her. On another occasion when we had a surplus, I received an email from a family who experienced the tragic death of their child. Again, I was able to provide dinner.
God taught me here the blessing of receiving and in trusting in His great providence - for myself and for others. For the Lord says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)”
I also learned here the gift of "true submission". In true submission, we can ask for help, like a little child. We can be honest about our human weaknesses and reach out to the Body of Christ. In reaching out, we give others an opportunity to minister and this is a form of ministry within itself. When we humbly allow ourselves to be the recipients of a kind deed, we leave with the giver a sense of grace and joy- and she is usually the one who walks away most blessed.
True submission and receiving also gives us the opportunity to return the reigns of life back to our King and hop into the passenger seat. Being in a position of receiving reminds us that we are not in control. We are not God, yet our OneTrue God has our best interests at stake. If we submit to this truth, then we can reap the blessings. Because the doing has been stopped, we can rest and receive - not only the gifts from others, but the greatest gift, which is the gift of Our Lord. In our times of need, we can learn again how to call out to God for help. We have an opportunity, to sit at His feet and take in His answers for our life- through Scripture, prayer, and quiet listening.
When the time comes then, this renewed receiving of the Lord leads us to do the ministry that He is asking of us. When we truly receive His graces, we can minister, not on our own strength, but on His …and this is the only kind of ministry that is truly of the Lord.
Luke 11:10
Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find.
And the door will be opened to the one who knocks.
Psalm 18:32
God gives me strength for the battle. He makes my way perfect.
Copyright -Nikki Schaefer 2008.
COPYRIGHT 2013 - HEART OF A CHILD MINISTRIES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
We live in a society which values a person based on his or her ability to produce and the quality of that production. This is taught to us in school, by the type of grades we receive or by the number of goals we score. This is taught to us as workers, by the amount of money we bring into our businesses or by the number of clients we see in a day. We are taught that the ability to produce high numbers and do well is what is valuable and this attitude seems to penetrate into our own personal ministries as well.
Most of us attribute the word “ministry” with the call to action. In order to minister, we see ourselves as the one who must be doing “the doing”. We find ourselves delivering a meal to a friend in need, distributing communion to the elderly, setting up tables at a church fundraiser, or singing in a choir…and this is all good. This “doing” feels good and we are helping others.
Yet there is another type of ministry- often the hardest kind - that most of us don’t consider. It is the "ministry of receiving" - a ministry that each one of us is called to at different times in our lives. We may be “laid up” because we break a leg, have an appendectomy, give birth to a child, or experience the death of a loved one. These are all moments when we are asked to stop “the doing”. This is difficult for many of us because we live in a world where our value is measured by our ability to “do”. It is challenging to just stop and be. It is difficult for us who believe somewhere deep in our cores that even God’s love rests on our ability to “do good” for Him. Yet, if we are able to submit to the circumstances in our time of need, open our hearts to ask and receive, then we will find God’s grace dwelling greatly there.
When I had my fourth child, I learned this lesson of "receiving". My first three children were born in St. Louis, where I had family surrounding me...and family "just helped". It was easy. Yet, when our fourth child came, we were no longer in St.Louis. We were in Omaha with no family. I was now in a new position of having to reach beyond "family", ask for help and receive. This was hard at first, but I decided that I would trust and say "yes" to every meal that was offered. When two were brought, I put one in the freezer. I prayed that if we had “extras” that the Lord would send someone my way to pass the food onto... and He always did. One night, we had two people bring us a meal. The next day, I had a friend call who was in need. Her husband had just lost his job and she was distraught and overwhelmed. I was able to give the extra meal to her. On another occasion when we had a surplus, I received an email from a family who experienced the tragic death of their child. Again, I was able to provide dinner.
God taught me here the blessing of receiving and in trusting in His great providence - for myself and for others. For the Lord says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)”
I also learned here the gift of "true submission". In true submission, we can ask for help, like a little child. We can be honest about our human weaknesses and reach out to the Body of Christ. In reaching out, we give others an opportunity to minister and this is a form of ministry within itself. When we humbly allow ourselves to be the recipients of a kind deed, we leave with the giver a sense of grace and joy- and she is usually the one who walks away most blessed.
True submission and receiving also gives us the opportunity to return the reigns of life back to our King and hop into the passenger seat. Being in a position of receiving reminds us that we are not in control. We are not God, yet our OneTrue God has our best interests at stake. If we submit to this truth, then we can reap the blessings. Because the doing has been stopped, we can rest and receive - not only the gifts from others, but the greatest gift, which is the gift of Our Lord. In our times of need, we can learn again how to call out to God for help. We have an opportunity, to sit at His feet and take in His answers for our life- through Scripture, prayer, and quiet listening.
When the time comes then, this renewed receiving of the Lord leads us to do the ministry that He is asking of us. When we truly receive His graces, we can minister, not on our own strength, but on His …and this is the only kind of ministry that is truly of the Lord.
Luke 11:10
Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find.
And the door will be opened to the one who knocks.
Psalm 18:32
God gives me strength for the battle. He makes my way perfect.
Copyright -Nikki Schaefer 2008.
COPYRIGHT 2013 - HEART OF A CHILD MINISTRIES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED