In some circles, you hear people bemoaning the fact that many churches are inwardly focused. They care about “their own” and appear to largely ignore the world out there that needs to hear the gospel. I believe churches do need to provide a degree of self-care and that there are often valid things pulling a church in that direction. Certain stages of discipleship could fall into this category. And it is appropriate to care for the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of the “family” – to love them in real and tangible ways. But a church falls short of its mission if it never looks beyond itself – if it hoards the gifts (spiritual and otherwise) that it has received.
If this is true for churches, is it also true for individuals?
You’ve probably discovered by now that I am incredibly grateful for the healing that has occurred in my own life. And reflecting on that, remembering that, is an important part of my story.
But if my testimony is only that I’ve been healed (or blessed in other ways) and am now able to live a peaceful life, then I believe I have stopped short of where this journey is supposed to take me. I become selfish if I hoard these gifts. There’s a purpose for these things that goes beyond my own happiness or less stressful life.
Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying you have to “get your act together” before God can use you in the lives of others. Or that there’s some sort of burdensome “pay it forward” checklist God is keeping track of. Or that we can never just relax and enjoy where God has brought us.
What I’m saying is that the things Jesus has done in my life equip me to pour into others. I can take my former woundedness and use it to speak hope. I can testify to God’s presence in the midst of pain. I can walk beside someone with deeper understanding of both their present condition and their future possibilities. I can use my home to bless others through hospitality.
Most people will probably have seasons when their own pain makes it difficult to see anything else. When they are the ones desperately in need of those who can speak hope and comfort and healing. When their time and energy are consumed by something that feels overwhelming. When clinging desperately to Jesus is the only thing they can hope to do to barely survive the day. I know I’ve had those seasons, and I may have them again.
Right now, though, it feels that I’ve been healed in order to heal, been blessed in order to bless, been comforted in order to comfort, been set free in order to set free.
The gospel message is not just salvation. It is hope and healing as well. It is proclaiming freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind. It is setting the oppressed free. It is doing the things we see our heavenly Father doing.
There is a world desperately in need of that message.
Lord, let me not get stuck hoarding what you have given me.
