OZ AND I is a series related to the classic daily devotional
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald
Chambers. Today’s post is based on his devotional for February 5.
This morning Oswald Chambers took out his mahogany ruler and
whacked me over the knuckles. He wrote about sacrificing myself—without
personal glory—so that God’s will might be done and He glorified through
others.
Often a sacrificial need will fly up into my face swept
along on a God-breathed wind. My first reaction is: Okay, I’ll help. But how
will my helping affect ME?
In other words, how little can I put myself out in order to
be helpful?
Fortunately, once I get over myself, then I help with a
cheerful heart. But how I wish the cheerful heart showed up first, instead of
last.
How I wish I didn't always first moan and complain before
jumping into God’s plan with joy.
Today Oz took me a step further, asking: am I willing to
sacrifice myself (my time, my efforts) for someone else even if it’s that other person who gets the glory?
Wait. Me help someone else get the kudos?
As a writer, I want to encourage other writers and help them
make their projects the best they can be.
But helping people with their projects is a major time sink.
An article may only take an hour or two, but helping develop a book or copy
editing one can take 30 hours or more.
What about MY writing?
Sigh.
Several years ago, God whispered to my heart: You are in the
writing business, Carol, not for your personal glory, but for mine.
What does it matter in the eternal scheme of things, whether
God is glorified by my books or whether He is glorified by the books of people
I have helped or encouraged in their projects?
It doesn’t.
Today Oswald posed the question. Do I say:
“I am not willing to be poured out right now, and I don’t
want God to tell me how to serve Him. I want to choose the place of my own
sacrifice. And I want to have certain people watching me and saying, ‘Well
done.’”
It’s tough, this humble servant stuff, isn’t it?
Then again, maybe “certain people” won’t be watching; but
God will be. And if He’s the one saying, “Well done,” then who cares about the
rest? Really.
PRAYER: Heavenly
Father, please help me get over myself. Please remind me that your plan and
your glory are more important than mine. Amen.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
In what area of your life might you need to get over yourself and work for
God’s glory instead of your own?
3 comments:
God gave you the gift of mentoring, Carol, no doubt about it, and it is very much appreciated. Your mentoring results in a witness and living testimony for Jesus.
My first reaction when called on to help others also is "what?" I don't think I have a spontaneous bone in my body which means I want to look at every angle of the task at hand from the logistics to how much it will cost. This means it takes time for my enthusiasm to build. Still, God works with me and blesses me as I try to do what He puts in my path.
Giving the glory to others instead of me is probably one of those daily battles.
btw, is it just a coincidence that there's a new OZ movie coming out?
@ Pam - "time for enthusiasm to build" - yes, that sounds like me, too. Fortunately God is patient until we "get there."
@ Chris - it is a battle, but God wins, so it's all good. Oz movie? Oh dear. I do hope they keep the "Wicked Witch is Dead" song...
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