Do for one... | Dana Wrinkle

Beaming with excitement my friend exclaimed…I love shopping for Christmas. I sat in almost disbelief.

It was only the first week of December and I was already overwhelmed by the season. The lists, the shopping, the gifts, the food, the parties, the needs and the expectations.

My inbox had been flooded for weeks with needs. Baptist Children’s Home. Angel Tree. Samaritan’s Purse. Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Amazima. Toy Drives. Christmas Collection for Hurricane Victims. Collection for Student’s in Need. Hannah’s Haven. Teacher gifts. Cookie swaps. Christmas wrapping for teachers. Classroom parties…on and on it goes.

It left me overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the NEED. Overwhelmed by the requests. Overwhelmed by physical and financial limitations. Paralyzed by indecision. Where do I give? Who do I help? When do I go? How much do I spend?

Then the Holy Spirit reminded me of a sermon by Andy Stanley. The tag line was: Do for one, what you wish you could do for everyone.

As soon as I remembered the sermon, a sigh of relief came over me. I’m not responsible for everyone, just for those God calls me to serve.

If I’m not careful, I will allow the devil to put a God-size burden on man-size shoulders. Saving the world is above my pay grade. Following the conviction of the Holy Spirit to give, falls squarely upon my shoulders.

I take some solace in the fact that on the cross Jesus said it was finished. (John 19:30)

But we know there was still work to be done. The world remains filled with the lost, the lonely, the sick and the dying. Jesus had proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He had ushered in the Kingdom preaching the good news, healing the sick and raising the dead. Yet, the work continues.

Often when God opens my eyes to the need, the devil changes his tactics. The devil hopes to stop God from using me to pour out His love on those around me. The devil likes to overwhelmed me by the need, distract me with busyness and paralyze me with indecision. He hopes to render me useless while whispering words of guilt and condemnation in my head.

But I have found if I will get still enough, quiet enough, the Holy Spirit will rise. A conviction will bubble up from within. This is the one. Give here. Give now. Give generously.

The difference in giving from the Holy Spirit is it comes with joy. It is not laden with guilt. It is cloaked in peace and ushered in with joy.

Maybe in the end, Jesus could say It is finished, because He had finished His work. He finished the work God had called Him too. He finished God’s will for His life.

That’s what I want as well. Despite the overwhelming need. Despite the limitations. Despite the distractions. Despite the exhaustion. in the end, I want to be able to say, It is finished.

Maybe my work, is not to help everyone, but someone. Maybe my work this Christmas season and all seasons is to do for one, what I wish I could do for everyone.