One of the great decision lines in the Bible comes from Elijah as he looks out over a wavering populace who followed the whim of public opinion and the safety of public protection. He said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21) He let the people know that they had to make a definitive choice who they would serve. Perhaps one reason that this is such a timelessly popular passage of Scripture is not just that God showed up with a miraculous demonstration of power (one man with God against everyone else without God), but that this one man was resolved and the others were not. Elijah, rough cut as any man ever was, left no doubt who he was committed to serve. And he did, right till the windy end as he was taken up to the heavens.
There is a follow-up question for those who have pulled out all of the stops and made their commitment clear to serve God. “How will I do it?” I certainly know many people who hobble between opinions. That is one story- a sad one at that- that is as timeless as waffling human behavior. However, there is another group of people who are not hobbling between opinions, but between best courses of action. I know probably as many people in this category than the other. They have gone on record to serve God whole heartedly. They are just wondering how best to do it.
I know many committed Christians who are trying to figure out how to live out their commitment. They have money and want to know the best uses. They have limited time to spend and want to know how they can make a dent in the world for God. They have profound love placed in their hearts, but are looking for the best places to intentionally express it. They have the will but lack direction.
I offer a few words of counsel. First, if you have the heart to serve, that is half the battle. Many just will not commit to anything. You have made that commitment and God will not leave you unsatisfied in it without providing opportunity. Second, be willing to live in the moment and not get tied up in knots about doing only one or two big things with your life. God has a famous reputation for moving people all over the place, doing all sorts of things. Just be open. I am convinced that the accumulation of small deeds will surpass the value of a big deed or two. This is why the people who did good to the ‘least of these’ were surprised at God’s response. Third, that means that you must pray daily- many times a day- to avoid committing to long term items that will strangle short term obedience. We were on sabbatical in
Europe
, taking the train and boat through nine countries. On at least a few occasions, we were so set on getting on a train in the right direction, that we happened onto a train that past our intended stop. Express trains may go farther and faster, but may miss the all-important intended attraction. Fourth, do not try to respond to every appeal. If you do, you will do a lot of very little. Trust me, there is a difference between number three and four. In the former, you are listening to the Spirit for that divine interruption and golden moment to serve him. In the latter, you are listening to everything else but the Spirit to attempt to grab every opportunity in hope that a good one might emerge. And fifth, refuse to be paralyzed by thinking someone else will do it, or that your action likely will not make much of a difference anyway. It is not enough to say, “I choose to serve God,” then not serve Him. You and I must find a way to live for and serve God or we will be living in disobedience.
I pray that the church is filled with people who have chosen whom to serve and are heaven-bent on finding out how they might best do it. Let this be a year of commitment to Christ and action that proves it.