I Don’t Need It
I remember when I began my ministry in rural Missouri. I was attending seminary, at the time, and accepted an invitation to pastor a church in the town of Archie. It was my first experience at preaching, and to be honest, I really didn’t know what I was doing. I was only 25 years old at the time and as green as you can get. A few years earlier, I had received a call to the ministry from Lord and so this opportunity seemed the right path for me. I had only preached twice, prior to becoming pastor of this country church and that was to drunks at a Rescue Mission, in Boise, Idaho. Now the challenge began. I got to preach to people who would actually listen.
It was the custom of this church for the pastor to stand at the back door, after the service, to greet the people. I remember so well shaking hands with these dear members and hearing their comments on the sermon. Some would just smile, nod and go on out the door, others would say what a wonderful sermon it was, while others, the more honest, would tell me all that was lacking in it. I learned quickly that the ministry was not a profession where one gains recognition and appreciation, but a calling from God. Sure, it is nice to receive praise for a job well done, to be appreciated and invited out for dinner, but I don’t need these things. I am called by God to preach the Word and woe to me if I don’t preach the Gospel.
Many times, we confuse what we think we need with what we really need. Paul wrote to the Philippians that God would supply all their needs according to His riches in heaven. (4.19) Jesus said that God knows what we need, and, as He takes care of all of creation, He will take care of us. (Mat. 6.25-32) What I am talking about here is trusting God to cover your back. He watches over us more than we can imagine. You may be praying for a promotion, and if you don’t get, praise God that He is covering your back. You don’t need the promotion for God to meet your needs. Maybe the promotion would take you away from fellowship with God and His people. He is covering your back. You don’t need that boy/girl to call you back. God is covering your back.
We so quickly question God’s Word, when things don’t go our way and when we don’t get all we have prayed for. I praise the Lord He hasn’t answered all my prayers. He knows me and what I need better than I do. In John, chapter 11, we read about Mary and Martha sending word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. They felt they needed Jesus to come right away, so that their brother would be healed. Jesus stayed where He was until Lazarus had died. These sisters were grief stricken. They were crushed. If Jesus would have only come when they had called, Lazarus would not have died. But Jesus was glad it happened. More than their brother’s healing, they needed a revelation as to who Jesus really was. He said: “I am the Resurrection and Life”. (John 11.25) God, many times, by-passes reason and to give us revelation. We must learn to trust Him with our “whys”; we don’t need to know why.
When surrounded by your enemies, you may feel you need deliverance from them, but then God prepares a table for you in their presence. You may feel you need an escape when the fire rages around you, but then God says: Stand firm, it will not burn you. What you think you need may not be what you really need. God has your back. Trust Him.
Scriptures to meditate:
Psalms 23; Mat. 6.25-33; I Cor. 9.16; Phil. 4.19; Heb. 13.5; John 11.1-44