Mark's Musings
Everyone gets tired. I've always had trouble sleeping. My mind just works and works and works. But I'm not talking about being physically tired. I had a conversation with someone recently who fits that bill. They were tired. They'd always participated in every ministry in their Church that they could. They had helped a lot in one particular area of ministry in the Church. They had helped Sunday morning; they had helped with Sunday nights and Wednesday nights and done multiple jobs all at the same time.
Things were going along swimmingly, even though they wer tired, they kept on working, because they received that special kind of joy that you hear preachers preach about - that joy that passes all understanding. That joy that makes you get out of the la-z-boy and head to the Church, even when you don't want to.
As an aside, if you'll allow me to take it here for a moment, I'd like to address the tiredness itself. We all get tired. As we get older we say, it's time for someone else to come along and do what we've done. But can you show me the retirement section of the Bible? I've been looking and just frankly haven't had any luck. All I see are words like, "Pressing on toward the goal," (written by old man Paul, by the way). Or I see words from 2 Timothy 4 that say we are to preach - whether the time is favorable or unfavorable - (in south Georgia English that means whether we want to or not). Now we do see Jesus taking time from the crowds to rest a few minutes an pray, but much of that time was spent early in the morning so he had the rest of his day to do his work. It's okay to take a rest. But there is never a release given for retirement. Whether we're 10, 50, or 100, we are called to serve in whatever way we can. Are you?
Now, back to the person who had worked tirelessly. They worked and worked. Until one day, a comment was made by someone else. And because of the comment, the person who had worked tirelessly was broken. And perhaps worse than that, didn't want to serve anymore.
My favorite Bible author James, says this in Chapter 3: "For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species. 8but no one can tame the tongue-a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This should not be so.
In fact, he spends much of that chapter talking about how dangerous the tongue can be. Frankly, one tiny little comment can wreck a person's whole energy and spirit to serve God. Perhaps a word, a phrase, even sometimes a look, or a point and a person's spirit is crushed.
I suppose there will always be those Pharisees among us who want to criticize everything that's done. They criticize children's ministry - even though they've never participated themselves. they criticize the youth ministry, even though they've never been to a UMYF. They criticize Sunday School, even though they've never gone. They criticize worship, having never once prayed or read a Scripture. There are even some Pharisees who criticize the youth when they lead worship even though they've never once stood in front of the people themselves.
Even though this conversation I had took place away from here, unfortunately we, like Jesus, hae to live with those Pharisees that are in our midst. They are going to be there. And though they, in their spiritual immaturity have not learned to tame their tongues as James says, we are called to serve. Suppose Jesus had just quit the moment his first detractor laid into him. He simply moved on to the next place and continued his work. And we, in order to be followers of Jesus, must do the same.
I believe that we are able to find that unmistakable joy when we allow ourselves to be focused not on the comments of the Pharisees, but on the smiles on the faces of those whom we serve. If you are tired, or hurt by somone's words, count it as a cost of you doing what you're supposed to do - serving God. Remember that even in suffering we count it as joy.
If you are a Pharisee, STOP IT. Google some of the words Jesus had for Pharisees. You are hurting the Church - and I don't just mean Wesley. Your criticism and talking about people and the Church to those outside the Church does nothing but confirm for them what they already suspect: that Christians are just like them, so why should they become one?
Those of you that are serving - take courage and serve all the more. Find that joy that comes only from serving god through Jesus Christ. Show others what the true life of a Christian is about. It's a life filled with joys and sorrows, ups and downs; good and bad. But a life is filled with peace that passes all understanding because we know that no Pharisee can touch the love of Jesus. We know that joy is found in Jesus Christ. So serve. Pray for those who may persecute you (you've heard that before, haven't you?) But in the meantime, Serve. And serve with a smile - cause you know the one who created your smile!!
Blessings!
Mark
