Everybody Has Something

​Revelation from God comes in many ways.
He reveals truth and wisdom to us through nature, the Bible, Jesus’ teachings, the Holy Spirit, fellow Christians, people, circumstances and friends.
Recently my good friend and faithful prayer partner Jim and I were talking about life. Discussing current situations we were facing in our personal lives. Then he looked at me and stated in a manner of fact manner “everybody has something.”
The Holy Spirit used Jim’s statement to hit me right between my spiritual eyes. Steve Roll you are not the only one with some “stuff” going on. Humble pie time.
Other people have “stuff” going on too!
Years ago I heard a preacher declare “I got problems, you got problems, all God’s children got problems.” Isn’t that the truth!
Your problems, concerns and needs are important to you, but not that important to others. They have their own needs and many of them are far more serious and significant than yours.
So, Steve, stop focusing so much on what you need. What you think and feel others need to know about your needs. Take your eyes off yourself. Focus on others who would benefit from your help and encouragement.
I realize that I am too self-centered at times. Admittedly I want life to be about Steve. I want others to care about me and my stuff. What is going on in my life is what matters most. Or does it?
You and I need to be less self-centered and more other-centered. Not so self-absorbed and self-focused that we neglect to understand what others are dealing with in their lives
 In the Bible, Paul writes to the Galatians “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:2-3
Simple. Bear other’s burdens. Sounds like less of Steve, and more of others. Burden bearers show God’s love. They help carry a hurting person’s load. He picture is of a soldier who is wounded and unable to carry his pack. He is assisted by a fellow soldier who carries his pack for him until the wounded man can carry his own pack once again.
To bear we must care. To care we must share. Caring, bearing and sharing means we have to be there for others regardless of our needs.
I have served in full-time Christian ministry as a pastor for over forty years. I have had the privilege and opportunity to minister to thousands of precious people from every imaginable walk of life. I believe I have poured my heart into many sharing the love of Christ in their time of need. But I wonder. How selfish have I been? I did not set out to be self-centered. Never to be the center of everybody’s universe.
But I am certain that Steve got in the way of Steve, other people and maybe even the Lord when I thought more highly of myself than I should think. Too easy to do. Ouch!
Does Steve’s stuff matter? Of course. But it should never take center stage! Most times personal and private is the best course of action dealing with life issues. Taking our stuff to the Lord and one or two trusted, mature Christians is the way to deal with our “somethings.”
At seventy years young, I am rethinking who I want to be in the last laps of my faith race. I do know I do not want my life to be about Steve. I want my life to be about Christ in and through Steve to reach people for the Kingdom of God. Especially wounded warriors who need someone to come alongside and carry their pack.
Remember no one person, including you, is more important than others. Jesus died for everyone. His unconditional love is the same for all. We all carry life’s pack on our back that becomes heavy at times. Love lightens the load when “something” is weighing us down.
 My friends, hurting people surround us. Every person you pass by or meet has something(s) to deal with. Most Americans are exceptionally good at covering their pain. Many, many people in our culture have no one to share their “something” with. No one who will take the time and initiative to listen to them. Isolation. Depression. Brokenness. Low self-esteem. Guilt, shame and failure haunt people and cause them to keep their guard up.
Look into people’s empty eyes. Watch their halting, uncertain gait. Their facial expressions and posture reveal much about their struggles. Listen closely to their words that reveal their “something.”
Always remember people like you are carrying a load every day. Why not be someone who helps them with their something?
I want to say it again: Everybody has something.
Ask the Lord to make you sensitive to the needs of others. Be a “something” of His love to people who need to know that God and His people genuinely care about them and the burdens they bear.
The Christian life is not about you, me or our somethings. It is about Jesus in and through us to minister to those struggling with their somethings.
“And seeing the multitudes, Jesus felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples” The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:36-38
A Word For Your Week: Somebody going through something needs you to care about them today.