Do When You Are Able

After hearing a missionary talk about his plans when he reaches his field of service, my heart was crushed. He spoke of the ministries in which he was currently involved.  The list was long.

I thought, “I used to do those ministries.”  I never wanted to be “I-used-to-be” Christian, and now it seemed I was.

He mentioned that he was able to teach and preach in public schools in America.  I was excited for him. I always wanted to expand my children’s ministry to the public schools, but there were no open doors. This man of God then suggested that he could use more helpers in that area.  I wanted to hoist my hand up and sign on the dotted line right away, but at this time in our lives, it is not a possibility.

My wife has had some serious health concerns over the last eight years. During the previous four years, she has not been able to leave the house much and is very limited to what she can do.   Because of her condition, I am housebound also and looking after her.

After continuing to listen to the missionary expound on his plans, guilt for not being able to do the ministries I have had for several decades bore heavy on my heart. I could not get his summons to teach biblical principles in the public school out of my mind. The more I thought about it, the sadder I became.  I could not do what I used to do.

After suffering for a while, the Holy Spirit intervened in my misery. The thought of “You have a new ministry now,” soon replaced the guilty feelings I had for not being able to do what I had done in the past.  I have no qualms about helping my wife and doing what needs to be done. It is an honor, privilege, and a keeping of the promise, “… in sickness and health.” However, I do miss what I was able to do for so long.

I loved doing all God allowed me to do in the past.  Every single opportunity was a blessing.  I never planned for those ministries to end.  I figured as hard as it is to get some to serve the Lord, certainly, the Lord would allow me to serve Him in those capacities to my dying day. However, the health problems came and caught us by surprise. In a short time, most of those opportunities ended abruptly.

I still have two ministries that I have been able to maintain, for which I am so grateful.  Then I started contemplating, “What if I wasted all my early years and never did anything for Him, and now I wanted to.”  That would be a terrible regret that would be hard to endure, yet, so many people find themselves in that situation.  When they had the health and the opportunity, they did nothing for the Lord.  It was all about them, and little was done for the Lord and others.

Most, if they live long enough, will also find themselves in the situation we are facing.  Do what you can while you can for the Lord because one day you may not be able to do for Him what you can now.   Do not waste the time the Lord has given you. Do something for Him.  Even if it is what you consider a small, insignificant ministry, do it for the Lord while you are able.
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10

You may not be able to do as much as you could have in the past, but there must be something you can do for the Lord now!  Your time for doing something that will bless you for eternity may end sooner than you realize.
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Eccl. 9:10
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I Cor. 10:31

“O Father, may it never be said of us that having come to an open door, we closed it; having come to a lighted candle, we quenched it; having heard the voice of a neighbor begging bread, we made denial, speaking of our own case.”  — McKenzie