What We Do Best
Giving is what we do best. It is in the air into which we were born. It was the action that was designed into us before our birth. Giving is the way the world is. He makes no exceptions for any of us. We are given away to our families, to our neighbours, to our friends, to our enemies - to the nations. Our life is for others. That is the way creation works. Some of us try desperately to hold on to ourselves, to live for ourselves. We look so bedraggled & pathetic doing it, hanging on to the dead branch of a bank account for dear life, afraid to risk ourselves on the untried wings of giving. We don't think we can live generously because we have never tried. But the sooner we start the better, for we are going to have to give up our lives finally, & the longer we wait the less time we have for the soaring & swooping life of grace.
He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into
full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can
be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
2 Corinthians 9:11-12
Eugene H. Peterson
Living in Mongolia as a servant, I struggle with. I struggle serving others because I want to serve myself. Serving myself is so so much easier after looking out the window to the world God has called me to. But, deep down I know it's not about me, it's about "them", those people outside of me.
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever
loses their life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 10:39
There are days when I cry out to God covered in tears, tired of serving others. I want me, me & myself. But, then I look at the amazing adventures, stories, friends & miracles I have been part of or seen. I would never change them because they have changed me forever. The best thing is that they have changed others forever too, our purpose.
There are many days I hate being a missionary, like most of God's people in the Bible did, but know it is what I was made for. I can only deny my true self (a servant) for so long then I need to return & be who I was. Only when I return does the joy only God can give return.
Matt Mayich