THE GIFT OF AVAILABILITY

THE GIFT OF AVAILABILITY
I admit that I am not the world's best gift giver. It is not that I don't want to give really good gifts, but I let my own idiosyncrasies get in the way.

The other day someone asked me what I had gotten Martha for Christmas, and I told them that for the most part I just tell her to get what she wants. I hate to give something which is not needed or to give something is not exactly right. It is not because Martha is picky, because she is not. I could giver her an old box from a store bought hamburger and she would graciously receive it. The problem is not with Martha, but with me. I would rather she go out and buy something really nice than for me to give her something second rate.

Of course, she is not going to go out and spend much on herself, because she is not into "stuff." But I want her to get what she would like to have, so I leave it up to her.

This is a similar problem in local churches. There are people who want to give their service to the church, but they don't think they have much to offer, and as a result their service is very limited. With the right counsel and encouragement, and an open mind, a willing person can serve the church in various ways. In fact, great works of ministry often go undone because there are not enough "ground troops" to do the work. The church is not in need of "super heroes," as much as it is in need of unsung ground pounders, and behind the lines support crews. For every high visibility champion there are untold numbers of dedicated warriors in the trenches.

On the other hand, some people want to serve their church in ways that are counter productive to their church. In those cases the "giver" is more interested in making himself happy with his own giving than he is with benefiting the church, reaching the lost and glorifying God.

Sadly, there will be churches this year which accomplished very little because people did not, first of all, give themselves fully to the Lord or they did not join their efforts with others to reach the world and build up the body of Christ.

But, if all goes well, we have another year ahead of us. Don't let the coming year end without you giving your personal service to the Lord. Give yourself to Him and He will use you in the best way.