Day 29. Accepting Your Assignment

Day 29. Accepting Your Assignment

Last summer, Keith Jaspers talked to our School of Lay Ministry about Rainbow Network, www.rainbownetwork.org, a charity founded by Keith and one at the top of my list. Keith told us that he believed that Matthew 25 (The sheep and the goats) was an imperative. We have no choice but to serve. Keith is a successful businessman who along with his wife have employed half the available hours of their adult lives in service. Rainbow Network serves about 55,000 people in the remote villages of Nicaragua providing food, healthcare, housing, education and economic development to those whose lives would otherwise be---well, just be. There is no doubt that Keith and the thousands he gathers to serve with him are the hands, feet, and heart of Christ to those people.

We’re not all Keith Jaspers, and we cannot all give half our time, but we are all called to do something. In today’s reading, Rick Warren makes a compelling case that we are called to serve, not out of duty but of “deep gratitude for what He has done for us.”

A question was asked, “How much charity is too much?” I have two answers, one tongue in cheek. Don’t do it all, there won’t be anything left for others to do. But my real answer is to lift them up until they are able to see God for themselves.

We are the only creatures created to be able to conceive of a God, yet millions live in starvation and destitution to such a degree that their minds cannot see beyond a bite to eat or a sip to drink. In their case, water or food is an act of love that will allow them to raise their head and see God.

Others, even in an affluent society, have become part of a subculture that do not have certain capacities to do for themselves. If we can just lift them up so that they can begin nourishing their own spirits what wonderful changes could follow. That’s love.

There are things that people simply cannot do for themselves. They need our hands. They need the body of Christ. If the two billion on this earth that claimed Christianity took seriously and accepted their assignment to serve with their unique gifts, just think what we could do!

This week is a week for us to think about our assignments.

Blessings so that you may be a blessing,

Rick