Dance With the One Who Brung Ya
Imagine for a moment a man who has been the recipient of great grace at the hands of his church’s volunteer teams: every Sunday, he’s directed to a parking spot close to the building. A door is held open for him as he and his family make their way inside. A team of kids volunteers have prepared to lead and care for his children, a team of worship volunteers have rehearsed for hours during the week, and a small army of unseen and unnamed volunteers add to the touches of grace at every turn.
Now imagine that the man hears an announcement or has a one-on-one conversation or just feels a stirring about serving, but refuses to serve. There’s something dark and shadowy that is revealed when we refuse to continue to extend a blessing that has been extended to us.
There’s something that’s broken when we experience a blessing, and then refuse to continue the blessing. There’s something lacking when we are always receiving, but never giving.
If you’re a believer, you must serve. It’s ingrained in the fabric of your soul. To receive the free gift of salvation and never do anything with the gifts you’ve been given is just deadly. You will dry up spiritually.
Ask yourself this question: “What was it that brought me / kept me at my church?” Chances are, you’ll have to factor the service of volunteers into the equation. Now ask, “Am I contributing something that would attract or keep someone else?” If not, you may hoarding the blessings you’ve been given.
But there is good news! You can break out of the non-serving rut and learn how to be a blessing to new friends. You can experience grace in being a conduit for the blessing, not simply a dead end for the blessing.
What’s keeping you from extending the blessing?
This is an updated and reworked version of an earlier post, originally published in 2008.
