Pastor's Corner: Give yourself

     [1 Thessalonians 2:16] The affection with which Paul writes to the Thessalonians is evident in his words. He compares himself and his fellow workers to a mother caring for small children and to a father interacting with his own children, showing how much Paul and his colleagues were willing to give to nurture the Thessalonian's faith and serve them. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and his fellow workers supported themselves so that the Thessalonians would not be burdened. It seems that they had encouraged many of the people individually and coached them in their Christian walk.

     If stewardship, in part, is about giving, we cannot deny that one of the greatest gifts we can give others is our time, energy, love and affection. It is especially true for those who are "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40): children, the lonely, the sick and the hurting. It does not have to be highly planned or costly; but giving a few moments or a few hours in humble and simple ways can be invaluable to the one who receives it. And often the giver is enriched with more than he or she gives. Ministry benefits both the receiver and the giver.

     Ministry is being a blessing. It's serving and giving and not counting the cost. It's what we who love Jesus are supposed to be doing all day, every day. Ministry is talking about Jesus, serving Jesus, being Jesus where people are in need of Jesus. Ministry is the most exciting, stretching thing in the world. It's an art - a spiritual art.

     Ministry helping people - happens all day every day and all night every night. Ministry goes on all over the world and on all seven continents. Old people and young people minister. People of all colors and races minister. Wealthy people and poor people. Sick people and healthy people. Ministry is a full-time twenty-four-hour thing. An "I can't wait to get going in the morning" thing. An "I don't have time to sleep" thing. An "I can't believe I have the privilege of doing this" thing. It's a hard thing, a glorious thing, a stretch, a reach, a "pulling you in every direction" thing. It is exhausting and exhilarating, an emptying of yourself and a "filling up to overflowing" thing. Ministry is in the end an art of the Spirit - a spiritual art...

     So ministry is for all of us - those of us who have grown up in the church and for those who are new to the family of Christ. So don't say, "But I don't have an opportunity to minister. I have no training." Ask God to show you the hundreds of opportunities that are right under your nose every day.

Shalom,

Pastor Michael O'Hearn

Hi-Line Lutheran Churches