When I was on the side of listening I don't think I realized how much I was needed. The thoughts that would run through my mind were something like, "The little I have won't make much difference so why bother," "there are people who can pray better than me," "there are other people out there that have them covered," and so on. All of these thoughts are definitely not from God! That is not to say that I didn't give of my funds, or my prayers and encouragement, but admittedly, I missed out on what God had for me sometimes because I let the enemy convince me that I didn't really matter and I couldn't make a huge difference because of my limited resources so consequently I wasn't needed. It's one way that I allowed the enemy to prevent me from being in community with fellow believers.
Now that I am on this side of the table I have an entirely different perspective! The Lord has shattered my wrong mindsets! I am SO grateful, humbled and honored that anyone would choose to stand behind me to support the vision God has put in my heart either through their prayers or through finances. I am just as thankful to the person who sends me $2 a month as I am for the person who gives me $50 a month. I'm just as grateful for those who pray for me once a month as I am for those that pray for me daily! I've heard Dr. Brown say on many occasions, "If we will all just do our part..." Every person is giving of their time and resources so and it's all honoring to the Lord! Who am I to put a hierarchy (for lack of a better word) on those amounts? We all remember how Jesus honored and specifically took notice of the widow who gave her last two mites. The most insignificant amount in man's eyes got the attention of God's eyes! And her example was preserved in within the cannon of Scripture and continues to serve as a witness of her faith thousands of years later! This is incredible to me!
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 speak to the unity and diversity of the Body. It is such a beautiful example of how we all need each other.
"For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body -- though many -- are one body, so also is Messiah. For in one Spirit we were all immersed into one body -- whether Jewish or Greek, slave or free -- and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one part, but many. If the foot says, "Since I'm not a hand, I'm not part of the body," is it therefore not part of the body? And if the ear says, "Since I'm not an eye, I'm not part of the body," is it for this reason any less part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the parts -- each one of them -- in the body just as He desired. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But now there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot tell the hand, "I don't need you!" or in turn the head to the feet, "I don't need you!" One the contrary, those part of the body that seem to be less important are indispensable. Those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe with greater honor; and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty; but our presentable parts have no such need. Rather God assembled the body, giving more honor to those who are lacking, so that there may be no division in the body, but so that the parts may have the same care for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer together. If one part is honored, all the parts rejoice together. Now you are the body of Messiah, and members individually."
When I look at these verses I cannot do what God has called me to do without the Body! We all work together as one unit. I can't say to that person who prays for me once a month, "I don't need you!" or to the person who gives $2, "I don't need you!" In the same way I can't allow the enemy to tell me that I am not needed or what I can give is insignificant because WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER! We all work together to advance the Kingdom of God in the Earth. No one in the fellowship of believers is called to be the renegade that works entirely independent from the rest of the Body. I no longer think that my prayers or donations no matter the size are insignificant. Added together we all make a huge difference!
Maybe you feel like your impact is insignificant. Maybe these feelings of insignificance prevent you from doing the "little" (remember the widow's mite that made a huge impact!) you are able to do. Remember that you are the body of Christ and you are part of the picture. We are to have equal concern for each other (v. 25-26). You are indispensable! If we all just do our part, shut down the lies of the enemy that would tell us that what we have isn't enough to make a difference think of what we could all do together?! This is the joy and strength of community. It's a beautiful design and gift from God that we don't have to do this alone but we can come alongside each other to accomplish the impossible. Let's all just go for it!
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