Apples of Gold

I’m not a huge fan of sponges. Sure, when they are fresh out of the package, they are nice-but they quickly become full of gunk and need frequent washings to remain sanitary.

If you put a sponge in a bucket of water it will quickly absorb the fluid until it reaches its capacity. Once the sponge is full, even if left in the water for awhile, it will not take any more water in. A sponge is not made to sit in a bucket of water. It is made to be filled with water and put to work scrubbing and cleaning.

Similar to the sponge we all come with an intake capacity. We can only eat so much without feeling uncomfortable, though we all have times where we attempt to extend that capacity to our own demise. We also have a spiritual capacity. We are designed to absorb the life-giving power of God by attending a healthy church, praying, reading the Word of God, and spending time in worship. We are also designed to take the living water which we have absorbed and get to work.

Jesus gives us an illustration of this principle in Matthew 25:14-30 where we find the parable of the three servants. In summary:

A man leaving on a long journey calls in three of his servants and gives them each some money to invest while he is away. The first one received five bags of silver, the second two bags, and the final servant was only given one bag. The first two doubled the investment and were rewarded and celebrated when their master returned. The third servant was afraid to lose the money and so he hid it in the ground. His outcome was devastating. Let’s consider the last two verses in this passage.

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is pretty serious here. Just like a sponge isn’t fulfilling its purpose by floating in a bucket of water, we are not fulfilling ours when we simply absorb the precious power of God and don’t step out of our comfort zone ministering to those around us.

Consider this Scripture; You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong-you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:2-3

When we find ourselves untouched by the presence of God perhaps we should consider this concept. Are we coming to the Lord asking for more when we have already received our full capacity of His presence? Have we heard truth that we have refused to apply? Are we overlooking the lost and hurting around us as we float in a glory bucket crying out for “More, More More”?

On the Other Hand…

One of my favorite parts of going to the park as a child was climbing on the merry-go-round and holding on for dear life while the guys challenged each other to see who could spin it the fastest. At top speed it was very difficult to get a hand on the bars as they flew past in a blur. When they finally gave up and stopped pushing so fast, it would continue to spin wildly for quite awhile. Eventually it would slow down and I would either jump off or hold on as the next person took their turn.

We can find ourselves at the other extreme of this concept, too. Sometimes we soak up the presence of the Lord and excitedly head out to change the world. Even with the best intentions we can find ourselves continuing to minister after we have been completely drained.

My husband is infamous for letting his gas gauge drop perilously far below “E”. He is not usually trying to see how far the tank will go-rather he just fails to notice the gradual decline of the needle. I have had the unlucky position of borrowing his car on more than one occasion and finding the gas was so low I certainly couldn’t make it to my destination. Sometimes I was not even sure I could make it to a gas station.

A car without gas or a sponge without water will not be very helpful. A Christian trying to do God’s work without God’s power will not be effective, either.

Chances are you find yourself in one of these extremes. The remedy for both is a balanced approach. Spend time being refreshed and refilled in the presence of God and then go out into our communities and sharing what we have received, then repeat the process. The lost and hurting are far too important for us to keep the life changing message of the Gospel to ourselves. They are also far too valuable for us to try to reach them in our own strength. I pray that we each would purposefully allow God to fill us and spill us out on others.