(Reprinted - Philip Harrelson)

 

Consider the following:

"If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a

better mousetrap than his neighbor, though he build his house in the

woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door" - Emerson

"There is no road to success but through a clear, strong purpose. A

purpose underlies character, culture, position, attainment of whatever

sort" - T. T. Munger

 

The world waits on a man who once he finds his purpose is willing to give everything to that desire. This is particularly true with men who are called of God. The world has yet to see that man who has totally given himself to the purpose of God.

We have but merely scratched the surface of what God wants to do with men in this finest hour of the apostolic church. What a hunger that should drive me! How is it that one attains that level of anointing? It is through the long hard courses of disappointment and sacrifice and inner struggle. It is through the turmoil that comes when you are no longer satisfied with the ordinary and average in your ministry. It comes with a hunger for holiness. It comes when the offenses that the Lord promised would come to us are ignored and we press on despite the hurt and misunderstanding.

God refines with afflictions, trials, and tribulations, the heat of which separates impurities such as unforgiveness, strife, bitterness, anger, envy, and other things that do not reflect the real focus of His character.

A story that I recently read tells of a man who was lost in the desert, near death from thirst. He drifted aimlessly across the hot sands for many days. With each step he grew weaker and weaker. At some point in his journey, he looked across the miles of dunes stretched before him and spotted an oasis in the middle of the desert. Initially, he thought that it was just a mirage but as it turned out it was an oasis.

He stumbled forward feverishly and fell beneath the shade of the trees. Finally he would have relief from his tremendous thirst. It was then that he noticed something that was different about this oasis from any other he had known before. Instead of a pool of water, or a well, or a spring bubbling, he found a pump. Directly beside this pump were two objects--a small jar of water, and a parchment note.

The note explained that within the pump was a leather gasket and for the pump to work the leather gasket had to be saturated with the water. Within the jar was just enough water for that purpose. The note also warned the reader not to drink from the jar. Every drop must be poured into an opening at the base of the pump to soak the heat dried gasket. Then, as the leather softened and expanded a seal would be formed thus forming a vacuum to pump water. Once this happened an unlimited supply of water would be available. The parchment's final instructions were to refill the container for the next traveler's use. The man faced a true dilemma. He was dying of thirst, and he had found water. Not much, of course. Maybe not even enough to save his life. But it seemed incredibly foolish to pour it away, down the base of the pump. On the other hand if the note was accurate, by pouring out the small quantity of water, he would have all he wanted. . . . . . . . . . .

What was he to do?

This "parable" illustrates so much about giving. It's principles apply to far beyond the monetary aspects. The principles apply to our time, our hearts, and to every aspect of our lives.

One first of all must understand that giving is a discipline that must run through every part of our walk with God. Someone should tell us right at the start that we are dying. Then we would be more inclined to live life and give life to the limit every minute of every day. When we immediately equate giving with money, we rob our ministries of something far greater. Consider the men in the Word of God who gave themselves to others. How far along would Timothy have gotten without Paul? How far along would Elisha have gotten without Elijah? How far along would the disciples have gotten without the Lord?

Giving will involve slowing down. You will have to slow down to a little less than light speed but it is worth it. Ask yourself this question: If I died tonight, what have I given myself to that would outlive me? Men who live for time get stuck thinking about houses and cars and vacations and status and . . . . . and . . . . . . . you get the picture. Men who live for eternity will find that they want to help men learn how to hunger after God. They want to help men reach others more effectively. They will spend their time helping others understand the Book. They will give themselves unselfishly to the tasks of the Kingdom.

So while we are trying to do all the right things with our pedigree why don't we sit down and give something that we have to a younger preacher.

I finally am beginning to understand that the heart of ministry is trying to help others look good instead of how well I do things. Encourage, uplift, help, give what you can give. It will involve your lowering some of your expectations (particularly if you are a perfectionist) and you will have to allow some room for incompetence.

Yet in your giving remember that many great things had small beginnings. A little boy's lunch fed five thousand. A small cloud ended a three year drought. A small town of Bethlehem brought a Savior. A small pot filled many vessels. A small stone dropped a giant.

There is a second principle succinctly supplied, which is simply: Only as we give do we prepare ourselves to receive. Part of the reason that God asks us to give is that otherwise we would be unable to receive.

Let the following Scriptures set up this point:

Proverbs 11:24-25 -- "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and

there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be

watered also himself."

Luke 6:38 -- "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,

pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into

your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be

measured to you again."

Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his

righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Psalm 126:5-6 -- "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." "He that

goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come

again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

 

The sower will weep because he must give up his meager resources, the last of his grain, in order to receive an abundance. But his reward comes when the seed he has cast away returns, a hundred-fold, in the sheaves of harvest time. The giving cycle applies to every aspect of ministry, one will find that just as he gives, whether it is a friendship, time, love, encouragement, that we will receive it back. . .

. . . in God's timing. If you keep your small jar of water, beware for it will soon be gone. But in pouring out, an unlimited fountain of abundance is released to us.

The last lesson: True giving means taking a risk. The risk to the desert wanderer is obvious. Maybe the parchment note is a lie. Or, if the note is accurate maybe the leather gasket is worn out. Pouring out the water means risking his life. When you or I give, it involves a risk. The risk may not be as dramatic but it is still is present. Sometimes our pride keeps us from giving. Sometimes some offense that we have weathered is still too fresh for us to give. Sometimes a spirit of competition keeps us from giving. Sometimes a seed of bitterness keeps us from giving to others.

All in all whatever it is that limits our giving, it limits the scope of God's power in our lives. The Good Samaritan found himself involved in great risk when he helped the forlorn man in the ditch. Maybe the robbers were still around. Maybe the man was a fake. Maybe it was a setup to rob the Samaritan. All of these things had to be weighed out in his mind before stepping off into the ditch. If you don't want to get dirty, then don't give. If you want to preserve yourself, then don't give. But if you want to reach someone then get down in the ditch.

Pain makes people change. Pain makes people need others. Sometimes the people who may have rejected you sometime in the past are now open to your caring hands. The man in the ditch did not care who helped him out. . . . He was hurting too bad. There are people in your church who are involved in situations that have almost destroyed them. . . . . HELP THEM!!!!! Whether they have responded to you positively or negatively in the past. . . . . HELP THEM!!!! Whether or not they have talked about you and torn you apart. . . . . HELP THEM!!!! There is something on the inside of you called the Holy Ghost and the Book says that the love ofChrist constrains us (2 Cor. 5:14). It will help you to give out and as you give out it will be given to you. GIVE YOURSELF AWAY!!!!

I leave you with this thought:

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that we are frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with and we will certainly be happier when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on vacation, when we retire. The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D. Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin, real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way, so, treasure each moment that you have. And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with... and remember that time waits for no one. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until, until, until....There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. And give like eternity will start tomorrow.

 

The longer I live, the more deeply am I convinced that that which makes the difference between one man and another--between the weak and the powerful, the great and the insignificant, is energy--invincible determination--a purpose once formed, and then death or victory. . . . .

Fowell Buxton

 

 

May God give you strength for the journey!!!

 

A Fellow Traveler