Dare 2 Share - "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Do you not say, `Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. (John 4:34-36)
We are all saddened to learn this week of the passing of one of our church's most valuable members: Somebody Else. Somebody's departure created a huge vacancy that will be very difficult to fill. Else has been a part of the ministry for many years, and as long as anyone can remember, Somebody did far more than a normal person's share of the ministry. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: "Somebody Else can lead that group." Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, a meeting to attend, a team to serve on, one name was on everyone's list- Somebody Else. "Let Somebody Else do it" was a common refrain heard throughout the church.
Perhaps Somebody’s greatest contribution was in the area of evangelism. Surrounding the church is a neighborhood full of unsaved people. When we heard about all the opportunities to share the gospel and invite people, we realized immediately that Somebody Else would jump right on it. Why should we have to muster the courage to share our faith with our friends when sooner or later Somebody Else would do it?
For some reason, Somebody’s favorite verse was: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1-2). Somebody actually considered God’s agenda more important than his own. He decided that trusting Christ for “fire insurance” was not enough- so Somebody decided to make a difference for the Kingdom with his life. I’m glad Somebody did!
Somebody Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing extraordinary; but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Somebody Else. Now Somebody Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Somebody Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Somebody Else did?
Perhaps now that we realize Somebody Else is gone, there will be those of us who decide to invest our time and effort in the churches we attend. Since Somebody Else is gone, it has to be you. Is there Somebody out there?
Questions:
1) Why do we live under this notion that Somebody Else will get things done?
2) What are your spiritual gifts, and where are you using them?
3) Would you be willing to be Somebody? Why or why not?
