It's always time to give more time to the Lord.
Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him…
– Philippians 3.8, 9
However, you have seen for yourselves how much I have paid to the administrators of justice in all the districts I was in the habit of visiting regularly. I reckon to have distributed to them no less than the price of fifteen men, so that you could continue to enjoy me, and I you, in God. I have no regret, nor have I done with it; I still spend, and will spend more.
– Patrick, Confession, Irish, 5th century[1]
Patrick was being accused of making himself wealthy as a result of his ministry among the Irish. The bishops in Britain, jealous of his success, called him to come back and give an account of his ministry. But Patrick had given up home, family, and, yes, even Church to go among the Irish. And while in Ireland, he continued to give, gaining the great satisfaction of knowing that he had been faithful to the Lord’s calling.
He was so busy giving, in fact, that he excused himself from their summons and continued the work to which he had been called.
Each of us has a calling from the Lord, a Personal Mission Field which no one else can serve. Jesus has sent you there, in the same way He was sent to earth, to embody and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God (Jn. 20.21).
Jesus gave up divine prerogatives and, ultimately, His own life, to fulfill His calling. It was from Jesus that Patrick learned to give what cannot last in order to gain what will never fade.
What are we willing to give up in order to know Christ better, to identify and own our calling, and to make known our Lord and His Kingdom more consistently and effectively?
Let’s consider, first of all, our time. Time is a most precious gift from God, and it is God’s time, not ours. He gives it to us like the talents in Jesus’ parable, with the understanding that we will put our time to work for His glory (Matt. 25.14-30). We must be careful in how we use the time God gives us, to make the best possible investment for the Lord and His glory in the time He supplies.
Doubtless many things occupy our time which keep us from growing closer to Christ or from serving others or bearing witness to them about Him.
Television and the Internet, for example. Possessions, work, hobbies, leisure, and mere dawdling? Fear of others – that too.
Patrick liquidated his inheritance and paid his own way to Ireland, where he used his money to purchase the right to preach in various places, and to free slaves, as often as he could. He cared nothing for money, wealth, or material things. He cared very much for his time, and for making sure he used all of it to fulfill his calling.
In this regard he was like the Apostle Paul, who also appears to have given up a fairly lucrative career as a member of the Jewish leadership in order to follow Christ. The problem is that, too often, we love things and settled habits more than we do the Lord or the people to whom He sends us. We hold on to those things that distract us or steal our time and attention because, whether we admit it or not, we love such things more than we should.
What’s the answer?
Give it up. Give it all up. All at once, whatever and whenever the Lord shows it to you. Give it up with joy and get on with the work of seeking the Lord and reaching out to the people around you with your new-found time and strength.
Who knows? God may use you as He used Paul and Patrick.
Psalm 25. 1-5 (Festal Song: Revive Thy Work, O Lord)
I lift my soul to You; O Lord, in You I trust.
Let me not come to shame, nor let my foes o’er me exult.
All they who wait on You shall never come to shame;
Yet they to shame shall come who stand against Your holy Name.
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.
What should I give up, Lord, in order to give to You and others more faithfully?
Introduction to Christian Worldview
For many of us, the subject of Christian worldview is a matter of interest, but also a mountain too big to climb. If only we had some easy handles with which to grip this subject; then we could begin making some progress in understanding it.
At The Ailbe Seminary we’re pleased to offer the course, One in Twelve, an introduction to Christian worldview using 12 diagrams and a variety of related study materials. In 12 brief videos I’ll show you how to organize your thinking and daily life for seeking Christ and His Kingdom according to a Christian worldview. The course materials will help you take this thinking into your walk with and work for the Lord. Study online and at your own pace. The course and all the materials are free. Simply click here for more information and to register.
T. M. Moore, Principal
[email protected]
All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
