The Seat MakerShembull

It’s About Perspective

We are to model our lives after Christ. It sounds cliché, but "WWJD?" really works. The culture desires to train our mind that “me first” is the way to win, but Jesus desires we follow the “me last” rule. It’s about perspective. There was a point in my life where I recognized that there was really nothing my family or I needed. We had it good...nice home, food on the table, clothes in the closet and toys in the playroom (if you were one of my four kids). There was a period where my wife and I had the opportunity to donate to a missionary in the Philippines, and that donation was going to present them the opportunity to build a church for many people starving for the Gospel in that area. It was one of the first times I remember thinking “this is a nice thing to do”, but I had no real thought for how it would affect me personally.

The missionary later mailed me pictures of the church and the people worshipping in it. My emotions became so overjoyed I couldn’t do anything but break down into tears. You see, what I thought was bringing me happiness for a long time (gaining material things) in no comparison could stand up against the touch from God this offering to the missionary made on my life. One plants, another waters, God gives the increase. I found the greatest filling of joy that year in the place I least expected, and it had nothing to do with gains of my peers or the culture I was living in. 

When we put ourselves out there to do what we can do for others in our capacity, God will multiply it to a level we’ve never seen. He will shake your world up and expose the path to greatness and joy in being a servant to others. After we saw what the donation to the missionary did, we began to give more of ourselves financially and in our time and abilities to help further God’s Kingdom because we saw the reward. We also noticed God’s dinner table in heaven was “gaining” more seats.