Committed Community
I’ll bet it involves others. Although we have seasons of solitude where God can prepare us for growth, growth happens in committed community. This is because we thrive through the relationships God brings into our lives.
Seasons of Service
But we’re not always on the receiving end of those relationships. Nevertheless, serving is better when you stretch to trust that God will meet your needs as you pour yourself out in service. But, that generally doesn’t come from those you serve. We’re not giving to get. We’re giving for him.
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35b
The Stretch of Service
A few months back I completed a stretch of service on a team of elders at a local church in Osaka, Japan. We came together as the first team of elders at this church. One of the founding pastors–also the lead pastor at that time–brought us together in a compelling way.
He had a way of encouraging the team, patiently teaching us and validating other team members perspectives, that made everyone feel valued. However, his boldness caused us to question our thinking at critical times when the team’s thoughts may have been misguided.
Growth Test
Our first opportunity for growth came when he asked us to send him away to plant another church. It was shocking to say the least because we had just started working together. We were still learning to lead together as a team. And now a key elder would potentially be leaving?
Living in a land where only 1% of the population is Christian, it wasn’t out of the question that something like this could happen. Isn’t that what a church is supposed to do? Of course, but it was hard. He was an incredible teacher in Osaka and a trusted friend. We were faced with a big decision.
Commitment to Grow
He needed a majority vote to be sent off to plant another church. In essence he was asking us to consider committing to a future community that hadn’t even been founded yet. Even if he and his family went, there was no guarantee that the new church would grow. We were stretched as we discussed, prayed and wrestled with it. However, we also sensed that God was leading him to start another church. The team of elders along with the members prayed with him and his family encouraging them to plant the new church.
Giving Your Best
It felt like we gave up our very best. But God grew the new church very quickly and raised up another pastor in Osaka to lead faithfully, in humility. What we didn’t know at the time was that COVID was right around the corner. The delay of the founding pastor’s departure would have been significant, had we decided against sending him. Both pastors have been incredibly fruitful for Christ’s kingdom. We grew as we committed to the new church community.
Serving the Stretch
People seem to remember your support when they are stretching to try something new. That’s when I grow the most. Giving to serve friends straining to step into their new normal is better than receiving. Supporting their best efforts with what they have to work with is not always easy however. Therefore, empowering friends to help them learn something they don’t know or do something they can’t do grows everyone.
Words Are NOT Enough for Growth
But all too often our efforts towards others growth focus solely on what we say to our friends. Words are important, but they’re only half the battle for growth. Growing by doing over words alone, is gain.
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.”
Proverbs 14:23
Security → Service → Growth
A man who grew in security of his relationship with Jesus said this: “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John referred to himself as the disciple who Jesus loved. He was secure in that. He was able to pen multiple letters that encouraged others to believe in Jesus. Out of that belief, disciples grew and so did churches.
How about you? When do you grow?
