How fast our fleshly minds wander into greater plans. Whether for a better job, bigger house, newer car, better clothes or our thoughts, opinions and attitudes are better and how the world should be on the same page as you. After all, no one else has life better figured out than ourselves, right? Being from the mission field I have struggled with this concept but on a slightly larger scale.
Anyone in missions knows money isn't something that grows on trees, though in some desperate times us missionaries can be found double checking the concept. With this harsh reality and being my mothers daughter I found myself struggling on right from wrong, was I being selfish or selfless, frugal or was my wallet dropping too much money? I naturally want to help people. But I found myself wrestling with MY calling and using money that I could use for MY ministry or donating it to others and supporting THEIR calling and THEIR ministry. Where was the line and when I cross it where am I crossing it into? I had tossed these questions up and watched them float off into a land of answers never found for over a year. Then Uganda happened. My heart ripped and shredded from my chest. Tears fell enough to have filled lake Victoria. Dreams invaded and calls were made. And I was the one to answer. To begin an organization to help children all around the world. With less than $5 in my account and no job I hadn't any idea where to start other than spread the news and my story. I needed the body of Christ in order to be the world changer I was to become. Reaching out and finding support I had come across a huge realization- I wasn't the only one with a calling. Obviously I had heard of callings and I had known people were doing missions long before I had ever heard of them. What I failed to understand was the passion behind it and the bigger picture to the change to come once their ministry was fulfilled! It had taken a month or two for this realization to really click but when it had I understood my heart was all wrong. My mentality, subconsciencly, was my ministry vs theirs and how can I show mine will impact more of the world. The moment this became apparent to me my heart sank, my stomach churned, and I felt sick. How could I even remotely compare saving orphaned children with sex trade trafficking? Or preaching the word and writing bible studies to feeding the homeless? Or fighting abortion to pouring into a friend going through divorce? After all doesn't one edify the other? Do I not need a preacher and bible study to help teach me of his love? Do I not need a friend pouring into me? What if they neglected that ministry? After all one cannot pour out what they do not obtain, correct? It is cliche, but we are the body. "The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body- wether Jews or Greeks, slave or free- and we all were given the one spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but many. If the foot should say, " because I am not the hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact god has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indespensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." - 1 Corinthians 12:12-23 With this being biblical how can one remotely argue their ministry is far greater than another when we cannot function without the other. Yes, one can have their ears removed and still function, but they are not complete. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a friend just over a year ago. I said, "isn't it crazy how we are all part of Jesus? One body? Man, I'd be so satisfied if he called me a toe." She snapped with sincerity, "ILL TAKE THE ARMPIT!!!" Even the role of the armpit is crucial. Maybe the armpit means running through the jungle searching out tribes who've never heard of Jesus. Or it's ministering to a widow. Regardless, another part of the body is touched and transformed into greatness.
I have found with all this my answers. We are NOT only called to OUR ministries! We are first called to love the world. To care and love them with all out hearts. If we are doing this we turn no eye on any ministry! We pick up whatever part we can and help. I am convinced after months and years of prayer, that not one single ministry will change this world. But instead all of them combined and helping one another will. There is no competition is Jesus; only love.
So friends lets pick up our crosses lay them at his feet and find someone else to help bring theirs to him while we're at it! I call the left side, and I hope to see you on the right so that nothing drags its way.
Together we are world changers. Apart we fight a losing battle!
Here's to changing the world as we know it!
Krista June
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