Although I’m always excited about the successes of my friends and clients, sometimes it seems that everyone is accomplishing great things but me. My novel languishes with little notice and few sales, while friends tell me about awards and great sales numbers. I see so many worthwhile causes I would like to help, but my budget keeps me from being as generous as I’d like.
Recently I met a woman who writes letters to nearly 100 deployed or wounded soldiers every week. She is struggling to cover the postage costs, and I feel that I’m not doing my part … and that’s only one of many things I wish I could do.
But I have a friend who likes to support worthy projects and is financially able to do so. I introduced my new friend and my “old” friend, and now the one with the financial wherewithal is contributing to the expenses so the other can continue her work. Both were so grateful – my new friend for the financial help and my long-time friend for the chance to participate in supporting the troops without having to write letters herself. I realized that while I didn’t write letters or contribute money, God used me as a catalyst. What I did was nothing more than introduce two friends who would otherwise never have met, and as a result something good was accomplished.
That started me thinking about how often God has used me – and perhaps you – to accomplish His purpose in ways that seem trivial but that are essential. As a freelance writer and editor, I help my clients make their work the best it can be. Someone else’s name is on the cover of the book or the byline of the article, but the book or article would have been less than it is without my help. My part may be behind the scenes, but it is important in the final product.
In the Koinonia service at my church recently, the leader Jim Cravens talked about “but God …” The words “but God …” appear often in the Bible. The people in the Bible couldn’t see God’s plan in the activities and events of their lives. But all the pieces fit together to fulfill His plan, even when the pieces seemed to be random and meaningless. God works in the same way today.
Sometimes the seemingly random and meaningless events may be me – or you – acting as a catalyst in accomplishing His purpose. Our part may be tiny and in the background. We don’t get any glory; no one else may ever know. But God knows, because He planned it that way.
We all have different roles in fulfilling God’s plan. Some of us have little parts in the background. Some of us have large parts in the public eye. But it takes every one of us doing our part – small or large – to accomplish God’s purpose.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)
[tags]Christian, troop support[/tags]