That phrase has played through my mind over and over since yesterday. Like an earworm—you know, the sound byte from a song that your brain repeats in an unending loop.
I don’t have a job. I don’t have children at home. So to live life “in community,” I try to connect with as many people as I can, to be an encouragement: “If there is any encouragement in Christ…” (Phil. 2:1-5)
Last weekend I determined that I’d keep the week all to myself. Do some things around the house. Get caught up on my reading. It didn’t happen. The details aren’t important, but before the week ever started, it was filled. The opportunity to make that determination eluded me this weekend as well; the week is filled already through Thursday.
Every week is like that. This isn’t an invective, life is good. S’all gewd. Everyone and their Aunt Matilda are too busy these days. But it begs the question: when do you know if you’re “being generous with your life,” or if you’re doing too much and for the wrong reasons?
I want all opportunities to walk in those good works which God has prepared beforehand. (Eph. 2:10) To quote my mom when someone advises her that perhaps she needs a nap, “But I might miss something!” I don’t want to miss any of it. But am I prompting people to glorify God? (Matt. 5:16 NASB) That’s my objective. My hope. I do know that “the servant life” looks different for each of us according to the gifts God gives us.
If reaching out to someone else sometimes feels like a game of Yahtzee where a winning combination is all luck and no strategy, my heart knows it isn’t. Believers don’t live in a world of chance and happenstance. We live in a world where nothing is wasted. Where God can use every bit of effort we’re willing to give, right down to the last toss of the dice with no five-in-a-row in our sights.
“Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:16 MSG)
About the author:
Joye says, "I have THE best husband, and 2 very, wise children with precious spouses, and 3 beautiful grandchildren who are geniuses. Heard enough to trigger your gag reflex?" She blogs regularly about her life at Joyeful Things
