GOD'S PROVISION II

Pouring Out

 

But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

 

For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

1Thessolonians 2:7-8, 11-12(NIV)

 

A few years ago I came across a greeting card with a picture of a small watering can on the front.  It said “When You pour out. . .”  Inside was a larger watering can and the caption continued “. . .He pours in.”  How I loved that card.  Before I committed my life to Christ I used to live in fear of being used up by the people who came into my life.  After my conversion I was astonished to find out that pouring out was one of the assignments He had for me.  Whenever that old fear would return I would have to run to the Lord and cry out Him to supply my need.

 

Whether you call it mentoring, discipling, or spiritual parenting, those of us who are chosen to pour into the lives of others will often find the experience bitter-sweet. We are required to live out the passion of the passages in 1Thessolonians with no reservations, but we must also recognize that these “spiritual children” have a will of their own.  They must someday take what we have given them and walk away from us.  If they walk in the way we have prayed that they would, we rejoice with great thanksgivinig.  But, if they choose another way we are hurt and disheartened. 

 

And, our task does not end there.  If we are to be servants who are worthy of our hire we must continue to pour out, praying and seeking God on behalf of this one who has dealt us such a deep wound.  Further, we may not allow bitterness to form a callus on our hearts.  We must do all the work of forgiveness and keep the light on for them in our hearts in case they should once again need us.  All this is impossible unless we remember: “When we pour out, He pours in.”

 

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

 Luke 12:48b(NIV)