Accept your limits

(Deuteronomy 2:2-3 MKJV) “And Jehovah spoke to me, saying, You have gone around this mountain long enough. Turn northward.”

This might be an unpopular subject but I believe today’s message is in line with the Word of God and very relevant for today. We are given limitations for our own good and for the good of others, let me explain. Though we have been given purpose and a dream that will stretch us we are not able to do everything. You may have heard it said before but it is true, “Pick one thing and do it well.” If that one thing is teaching or the ministry of helps or being an evangelist or pastor then give it all you have and stay on track. Don’t let other things distract you from that purpose. Too often the “good” can and does get in the way of God’s “best” for our lives. It has been said that in any volunteer organization eighty percent of the work gets done by only twenty percent of the people and from my experience I have seen no reason to doubt that but often those who are willing to do the work get loaded down by team leaders and in the case of church spiritual leaders i.e. pastors. Please if you are a pastor don’t be offended. A good pastor is instrumental in guiding us in understanding God has purpose for our lives but did you know it is not the pastor’s job to tell us what our dream is? Sometimes the lines get confused and yes there is much to be done but instead of putting more on the twenty percent the leaders are to bring more of the eighty percent on board. Let me say it again God does not intend for you to do everything, even if you could do you think that would be best? I say no! What would you become if you were able to do everything? In a very small way I have experienced this as I volunteered in the training and leading of a team of volunteers I found myself being depended upon beyond what was healthy. My constituents, even though they had been trained and tested were not comfortable making decisions on their own. So what did I do? As God allowed me to recognize what was happening He also opened a door for me to give them full responsibility while I went to another church to train a new team. I gave my team support and my cell phone number but you know what when I returned they didn’t need me as much and I believe God did something in their hearts because they no longer were just helping because it was good or fun but because they had ownership in the ministry! Was it difficult? You bet! When I am weak I find it easier to do things myself than teach someone else to do it but that is not what God’s best. In doing this I had to understand where my value came from – it wasn’t in the service I provided but that I am a beloved child of God, in Christ alone does my life mean anything!

That puts an entirely different perspective on life. If you are of that twenty percent, then God’s message to you is – stop striving, I love you for who you are not for what you do. I have called you to lead others in the area that I have gifted you. The question is not how much can you do but are you discipling others. If you are part of this group then there is a passion inside of you that others need to know. If anyone could have done everything on their own it would have been Jesus but instead we see him investing into his disciples right up until it is time for him to leave. Yes, we have been given limitations not only for our good but the good of others and we should embrace these boundaries for that is God’s plan.

If you would like to know more about what accepting your limits looks like I wrote a handbook for my constituents to use in my absence and I will email it to you just email me at prosound@cinci.rr.com and mention the Production Team Leader Handbook. It does not talk as much about technical skills as it does leadership and empowering others. It took a year to complete and as I look back I realize it was from God’s heart because I still have trouble getting it sometimes. No matter what I do in this life I will never forget that experience but still I look forward with anticipation of what is yet to come because I know I belong to Him and His heart is passionate for me and as I travel from one promise to the next I have learned not to hang on too tightly for all my hope and value is in Him!