Give Yourself

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thess. 2-:1-16 KJV)

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 have a father interacting with his own children, showing how much Paul and his colleagues were willing to give to nurture the Thessalonians' 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, and affection. It is especially true for those who are 'the least of these' (Mt 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. Teacher and author Jill Briscoe tells how 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 the poor - 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. Black people and white people. 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 those of us who, like me, have come to Christ from the outside of 'Christianity everything.' So don't say, 'But I don't have any opportunity to minister. I have no training.' Ask God to show you the hundreds of opportunities that are right under your nose every day.