1-10-21 It’s not your job
Quote: “Stop trying to convince those that need it and just focus on helping those that want it.” – Alexandria Mahoney
Most people love to feel needed. There’s something warm and fuzzy about knowing you have something to offer another human being that may cheer them up, make their life easier, or surprisingly bless them. Some people take it a step farther. They are “fixers”. They see a problem and instantly can for see a solution. Then there’s those unique individuals who come up with a solution and feel compelled to make change happen.
It doesn’t matter what category the majority of your days falls in. But I have to believe that there is just a slim percentage of the population that actually don’t want to “help” people if given the chance. Maybe it’s rose colored glasses or seeing the glass half full but for the most part, humans enjoy helping others.
However… there comes a point where you have to ask God how much energy you’re actually supposed to be putting into someone’s life or situation. It’s all about letting God take control and letting him lead the way. And how do we do that? By asking him for help with making every decision we go to make. For some people this is a deal breaker. They don’t want that kind of surrender and look at it as asking for permission. Christians don’t see it that way – they think of it like this: “God, I admit I am not always naturally that sweet of a person. I need your help! Wrestle with me and help me figure out what you want me to do in this situation. Am I supposed to help them? Is this worth my energy and time? Or am I blocking someone’s blessings by helping this person? Is someone else supposed to take the lead with this cause/person/problem? What do you want me to do here God?”
Christians have these conversations like this with God all day long. It’s what we do. We hear his voice. We need his input. We know we need a higher power to make these tough decisions. Our time is precious. He wants us to pick and choose what we do with our time with his help. Just because someone is in our life doesn’t mean it’s our job to help or fix them. He will make it clear who we’re supposed to ask to join our table and do life with us.
The teachers of the law saw Jesus eating with sinners and other not so Godly people. The teachers asked Jesus’ friends why he ate with sinners. Jesus’ response is classic! It says in Mark 2:17, “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'”
What a truthbomb. If someone makes fun of your faith or doesn’t want to listen to you share about your faith, ask God how he wants you to handle it. If God says share your story, that’s different. But if God wants you to spend your hours and minutes sharing your faith with that those that actually want to grow, you must oblige. Those that think there is no need for a faith because they are naturally good people, you just keep on being you and life your life the way God calls you to live. It’s not your job to fix or convince everyone. If Jesus recognized that and focused his time on those that admitted they were sinners, then you should too! As my mentor Gail told a group of us on the mission field one time, “You can’t keep giving water to those in the desert that don’t want it. Focus your time on those that are thirsty!”
Ask God to help you pick your “patients”. He will make it clear! I am so thankful for the people that have poured into my sinful life. I had to make the choice for myself and be open to listen to their advice. No once forced me to choose my faith. God had to get a hold of my hard heart.
That’s God’s favorite thing to do. You let him do his job and ask him what your role is.
