A while back, I had a good friend.
One of the things about this friend was just the great loyalty and dedication displayed. The servant heart was something that was somewhat taken advantage of by others. She would often be called because people knew she would be available and would help almost at the drop of a hat. It got to the point that the only time she got a phone call or an enquiry of any sort it was usually with a favour attached.
Witnessing this left me downhearted for my friend. It was as though she was only of use as long as she was of use. Who she was as a person and actually serving her needs as a person seemed to not be of any importance to others. I made it my point to look to befriend her on mutual terms, looking to serve her as much as she served others.
Over time things changed, life happened, and my time was taken up with married life and being part of a church plant and getting consumed with that. Relations with my friend seemed to ebb away somewhat.
Of late I remembered her again when I was thinking of church community. A church that cares about each other, does so not primarily for what they have to offer, but primarily because they are children of God and thus they are family. Their identity and value in the light of these facts, should help us to care for them and go the extra mile to tend to their needs emotionally, relationally, intellectually … holistically.
That kind of love is not about what you hope to gain from them, it’s about how you hope they will experience God’s tremendous blessing and be the better for it.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 