Who's This For?

How much of what we do are we able to say is done for the benefit of others? When the ministry "Out of the Woodwork" was just getting started, I liked to tell myself that, "This is really not for me, but to give opportunity to others." Who knows? The idea of sharing tools and work space with others seems like a pretty altruistic thing to do and it might even put a star or two on that "good behavior" chart that someone somewhere must be keeping. It hasn't exactly worked out that way however.

It would seem that the primary beneficiary of the whole share the wood shop idea has turned out to be me. What started as a tentative, "if it doesn't work out we'll just stop doing it", turned into "if I stop doing this, it's going to leave a big hole in my life". Looking at how this has come about is perhaps instructive. At first, having the shop available regularly seemed like an obligation and needed to be fit into the "important" things I was doing. Somewhere along the line, that changed into "What would I do without this wonderful experience?"

If there is a key to what has allowed Out of the Woodwork to become a welcome habit rather than a nagging responsibility, it is a realization of something I had professed, but, at one time, failed to practice. Once we accept the idea that we posses nothing except for the grace of God, it becomes not only selfish, but downright sinful to refuse to share. So, here we are several years into the program and although there has been benefit to lots of people, no one has gained more than I. With what has God entrusted you? How are you sharing it? Don't hesitate. God trusted you with everything you have: time, talent, and treasure. You'll be closer to Him if you share it.