.
First some back story.
†. Jdg 7:1-8 . . Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his
men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them
in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
. . .The Lord said to Gideon: You have too many men for me to deliver
Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that
her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people "Anyone who
trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead" So 22,000 men
left, while 10,000 remained.
. . . But the Lord said to Gideon: There are still too many men. Take them
down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say "This one shall
go with you" he shall go; but if I say "This one shall not go with you" he
shall not go.
. . . So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him:
Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those
who kneel down to drink. Three hundred men lapped with their hands to
their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
. . .The Lord said to Gideon: With the three hundred men that lapped I will
save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go,
each to his own place. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents
but kept the three hundred; who took over the provisions and trumpets of
the others.
For the longest time I wondered why the Lord selected those particular 300
men and then it finally hit me that it wasn't that the men who drank on their
hands and knees with their lips to the water were fearful because all the
scaredy-cats had already been cut loose. Nor is their any indication they
were either incapable or incompetent. What we're looking at here, I believe,
is a lack of enthusiasm. The men who scooped up the water and lapped
from their hands were raring to go and anxious for some action. But the
ones who got down on their hands and knees and took their sweet time
about it weren't. No, they were in no hurry at all because they regarded the
upcoming battle as a chore no different than chopping wood, hoeing weeds,
or doing the dishes. In other words: in their mind's eye "It's a dirty job; but
somebody has to do it so what the hey; I guess we'll pitch in and do our part"
Some years ago my wife was asked to teach a 2nd grade Sunday school
class for no other reason than that she was a professional qualified to teach
K thru 6. Well, she took the job because the church's child education
department made her feel guilty. My wife was competent enough, and
capable enough; but her heart was never really in it and the first chance she
got; passed the job on to somebody else and was greatly relieved to do so.
Moral of the story is: I see no shame in turning down a Christian service
capacity if your heart isn't in it. In my opinion, that's an indication that Christ
probably has another use for both you and your particular skills; especially
something you can really sink your teeth into.
†. 2Cor 9:7 . . Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I think that principle applies in Christian service capacities too. If your heart
just isn't in it; pass on the opportunity and look elsewhere to be of use to
the Lord.
For example: I'm not really a singer; and for the first 32 years of my life
made no attempt at it. But one evening at church, I took a short cut through
the sanctuary on my way to a class for singles, and the choir happened to be
rehearsing. So I stopped for a bit to listen to their heavenly four-part
harmony and was absolutely taken in.
Well; long story short, one of the choir's men saw me in the back watching
and listening; and later suggested I try out. So when I saw an
announcement in the church bulletin for additional choir members, I
approached the director and he asked me what part I sang. Well; heck what
did I know about parts? So he punched a few keys on the piano and asked
me to duplicate the pitch and it turns out I'm a bass; not a basso like
George Beverly Shea, but a bass, which is a bit higher in range than the
basso guys.
You know what? I never enjoyed myself so much in church as when I sang bass
in that choir. I did it for two years and never missed a rehearsal, nor a concert,
nor a Sunday morning. I could hardly wait to get there. My heart was really in it;
and consequently I threw myself into it 110%.
Cliff
/
First some back story.
†. Jdg 7:1-8 . . Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his
men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them
in the valley near the hill of Moreh.
. . .The Lord said to Gideon: You have too many men for me to deliver
Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that
her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people "Anyone who
trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead" So 22,000 men
left, while 10,000 remained.
. . . But the Lord said to Gideon: There are still too many men. Take them
down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say "This one shall
go with you" he shall go; but if I say "This one shall not go with you" he
shall not go.
. . . So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him:
Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those
who kneel down to drink. Three hundred men lapped with their hands to
their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.
. . .The Lord said to Gideon: With the three hundred men that lapped I will
save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go,
each to his own place. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents
but kept the three hundred; who took over the provisions and trumpets of
the others.
For the longest time I wondered why the Lord selected those particular 300
men and then it finally hit me that it wasn't that the men who drank on their
hands and knees with their lips to the water were fearful because all the
scaredy-cats had already been cut loose. Nor is their any indication they
were either incapable or incompetent. What we're looking at here, I believe,
is a lack of enthusiasm. The men who scooped up the water and lapped
from their hands were raring to go and anxious for some action. But the
ones who got down on their hands and knees and took their sweet time
about it weren't. No, they were in no hurry at all because they regarded the
upcoming battle as a chore no different than chopping wood, hoeing weeds,
or doing the dishes. In other words: in their mind's eye "It's a dirty job; but
somebody has to do it so what the hey; I guess we'll pitch in and do our part"
Some years ago my wife was asked to teach a 2nd grade Sunday school
class for no other reason than that she was a professional qualified to teach
K thru 6. Well, she took the job because the church's child education
department made her feel guilty. My wife was competent enough, and
capable enough; but her heart was never really in it and the first chance she
got; passed the job on to somebody else and was greatly relieved to do so.
Moral of the story is: I see no shame in turning down a Christian service
capacity if your heart isn't in it. In my opinion, that's an indication that Christ
probably has another use for both you and your particular skills; especially
something you can really sink your teeth into.
†. 2Cor 9:7 . . Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I think that principle applies in Christian service capacities too. If your heart
just isn't in it; pass on the opportunity and look elsewhere to be of use to
the Lord.
For example: I'm not really a singer; and for the first 32 years of my life
made no attempt at it. But one evening at church, I took a short cut through
the sanctuary on my way to a class for singles, and the choir happened to be
rehearsing. So I stopped for a bit to listen to their heavenly four-part
harmony and was absolutely taken in.
Well; long story short, one of the choir's men saw me in the back watching
and listening; and later suggested I try out. So when I saw an
announcement in the church bulletin for additional choir members, I
approached the director and he asked me what part I sang. Well; heck what
did I know about parts? So he punched a few keys on the piano and asked
me to duplicate the pitch and it turns out I'm a bass; not a basso like
George Beverly Shea, but a bass, which is a bit higher in range than the
basso guys.
You know what? I never enjoyed myself so much in church as when I sang bass
in that choir. I did it for two years and never missed a rehearsal, nor a concert,
nor a Sunday morning. I could hardly wait to get there. My heart was really in it;
and consequently I threw myself into it 110%.
Cliff
/
