Earlier this week I was carrying on a conversation with a good friend of mine via text. Every so often we drop each other a note just to say we’re praying for the other as we sending our love and prayers. [side note: if you don’t have friends like that you’re missing out. Those random texts of love and concern have a way of making you feel like you actually matter to someone.] I felt blessed because they had sent me a text rather than the other way around. I realized I mattered to someone and, honestly, that felt good. You know people love you and care about you but, and I’ve done it too, we tend to overlook those closest to us. The simplest acts of kindness can make a world of difference during one of those ‘bad days.’ Okay, back to my story. I responded to the text expressing I was doing well and thanked them for checking on me. I, genuinely concerned, returned with the same question asking how they were doing. The response I got wasn’t the one I was expecting but I was thankful for as it really ministered to me and has continued to do so throughout the week.
This person responded by expressing to me a lesson God had taught them during their drive to work. We’ve all been there. Our day starts and we’re not feeling very well mentally. No doubt the past few days, months or, possibly, years have affected our outlook on life. My friend, a fellow minister, expressed genuine feelings of hurt. Having poured themselves into ministering to those around them, when God led them in another direction, they felt forsaken as no one from the last location ever called to check on them and express the same love they had unselfishly given to others. This person felt worthless, and, using their words, they felt “disposable.” You may choose to stand in denial but if you’re willing to admit it, you’ve felt that way too at one time or another. Whether you’re a minister, nurse, social worker, parent or….whatever…….it’s easy to fall into our own little pity party. You give and give, others take and take, and you leave feeling empty, unloved, and uncared for. Where are those people when YOU need a pat on the back or an encouraging word?!?!
The response my friend got from the Holy Spirit was no doubt unexpected as the answer was, “You’re not disposable, you’re recyclable.” WOW!!! Okay!!! That’s puts a TOTALLY different spin on things. While those feelings of hurt are genuine we must constant reassess where our focus is. When we start focusing on things of the flesh such as receiving the same love, care, and recognition we give others we’re setting ourselves up for failure as many people simply don’t have the capacity to give or choose not to. We live in a world surrounded by needy people. They have their own list of grievances and, many times, are only out to have their own egos stroked and needs met without having to lift a finger to help themselves or someone else. We’ve become a “ME” generation. Take care of me! Give to me! Love me! Do for me! All while they sit back and expect to be pampered and coddled. While I realize we’ve all been hurt or mistreated, we can’t allow these things to prevent us from doing the work of the kingdom.
If you call yourself a Christian your life becomes LESS about you and MORE about doing His work. We’re called to be His hands and feet. The word reminds us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Even Jesus Himself had no desire to die on the cross as he asked the Father to “take this cup from me.” His human fleshly feelings were genuine. YOUR feelings are genuine. Let me repeat that à YOUR FEELINGS ARE GENUINE…..BUT……if you’re a Christian your life isn’t about you any longer, it’s about helping others—and this is true whether you have ministerial credentials or not. We can’t allow society to convince us everyone owes us something. Again, I realize some have been genuinely hurt and mistreated. But when you allow your past to paralyze you, you become unable to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” This scripture reminds us the focus is less about us and more about leading other to His saving grace.
The choice is really all yours. If you live in the flesh you ARE and WILL BE disposable, as my friend mentioned. God can’t use someone who is self-centered as that goes against everything He stands for. If you choose to live in the spirit you are choosing to become recyclable. No doubt, the recycling process isn’t a nice one, as you’re being remolded and re-made into something He can use. Truth be told it’s down-right uncomfortable at times. I know this from my own personal experience. The choice is yours. What do you choose? Disposable or Recyclable?