Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. I Corinthians 12:27-31 (ESV)
Today is the last day of the 7 Experiment. While I substituted a black shirt for the gray one, I managed to get the stain out of the white T-shirt and wore my frayed black jeans. I recognize that I do live a life of excess and plan to make some changes in how I shop, spend and what I keep in my closet. In addition to learning what it is like to only have a few sets of clothing and the difficulties in keeping those clothes clean and neat, the greater lesson I learned is all about comparing myself to someone else. If you read my blog and thought, “Wow! She went for a month wearing only seven items of clothing,” and then, felt badly about yourself, I hope you will think again. I read a quote this week that said, “Comparison is the thief that steals joy.” As believers, when we determine to be obedient and follow what God calls us to do to make a difference in our world and to glorify Him with our lives, we can get so easily off track when we start keeping score and checking off the boxes. When we start looking at other people’s lists and worry that ours is not good enough or think that ours is better, it is just as much a sin as disobedience. What matters most is that we listen to what God is telling us to do and do it. If He tells us to feed one, we feed that one. If He tells us to feed a thousand, we feed that thousand. If He tells us to give our coat to one, we do so, if He shows us a hundred who are hungry and cold, we take care of them. He gives us the power to do so, it does not come from us so why should I brag or feel insignificant? Comparing my mission to yours robs me of the joy in serving. As I finish up this month of experimenting, I learned two lessons. One: I need to be doing something to help the poor and not just those in Third World countries but the poor in my own community who are trying to hold onto a job and don’t have the wardrobe it takes to make a good impression on an employer. Two: Not to compare my mission to another’s. I cannot superimpose what I have been called to do upon everybody else because God speaks to us all differently and gives us different tasks. I have a responsibility for using the gifts He has given me. Don’t condemn me for using them the way I do and I won’t judge you for how you respond either. Let’s leave the judging to God and get to work. There are too many in need of help for us to be fighting amongst ourselves! What we do is not as important as why we do it. Love is the most excellent way.
Sugar plum, I am SO sorry! I only just now saw your comment from 2 weeks ago! I don't have an e-reader, anyhow, but I feel just awful to have been so remiss. I've been half laid up and completely lost track of time. Did you get the reviews you needed? How is the promotion going? I'm so excited for you! Now, I'm off to Amazon to see if there are any copies left! 😉