The following is a true story that has stuck with me ever since the first time I heard it and seems to be one that the Holy Spirit continually reminds me of in my personal walk of faith. This is my best recollection of the story as it was told to me by a friend of mine who is a youth pastor. I have changed the names for privacy purposes.
Bob was a very prominent and well respected youth pastor throughout the entire nation who had just finished reading a book whose primary topic was to teach him the fundamental principles necessary for him to continue to excel at being a youth pastor. It taught him everything that he needed to do so that he could fulfill his job description given to him by his head pastor and win souls for Jesus. He finished the book pumped up about the insights he learned and his new found clarity and focus. Shortly after that, he began his next book. He knew he wanted to shift gears a bit and focus on something other than his work/ ministry. He chose a book whose primary topic dealt with what it meant to be a husband and father. This book outlined all of the essential character traits of a true man. It taught him what the primary needs of his wife and children were and how he was called to meet those needs on a daily basis.
Upon finishing the second book he found himself grieved within his spirit. As all great leaders do, he sought counsel. He set up a meeting with his head pastor Joe (who was also his boss). Joe was the pastor of a very large and well known church and was known on a national level within the ministry. Needless to say, Joe was a very good leader and a man who knew God well. He walked into Joe’s office, sat down, and laid out his dilemma….
Youth Pastor Bob: “I don’t know what to do Joe”. He laid the two books on Pastor Joes’ desk. “I have just finished reading these two books and I have a serious problem with them”
Pastor Joe: “What is the problem Bob?
Youth Pastor Bob: “ The problem is that this book teaches me everything that is necessary for me to do to be successful at being the youth pastor that you have hired me to be, and this book over here teaches me everything necessary for me to do to be a husband and father. The problem is that after reading both and giving serious thought and reflection to them I’ve come to a difficult conclusion….I can’t do both of these at the same time. I can’t be both of these people at the same time. There isn’t enough time in the day. Someone is going to get cheated!”
Pastor Joe: Joe pauses for a bit as he gives thought to what Bob has said…. “Bob, You need to do everything that the book on being a husband and father says, and I’ll take what is left over”
And Youth Pastor Bob did just that. And his ministry continued to flourish and grow. This story has always amazed me because I have to believe that if an earthly boss is able to say that he will take what is left over when the priorities of his employee are right, how much more must our heavenly father be saying the same thing to us today? In fact, something within me says that this is exactly what God is waiting on. He is waiting on us to prioritize correctly. He is waiting on us to value what He values. Doesn’t it say… “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be added unto you”? And then…upon realizing what is of true value, we have to step out on faith that God will take the leftovers and multiply them. Isn’t that the God we see in the Bible? Isn’t He a God who takes a few loaves and feeds thousands?
Something within my spirit tells me that not only is this decision what the Lord is waiting on, but that this is also the only route to entering the Promised Land in this life. If you remember, the Promised Land had to be entered by faith. Without faith they wandered in the wilderness and died. God is eagerly waiting for us to decide who will get cheated in our life. Will it be work? Will it be our family? And that decision will require faith. That is why it says… “The righteous walk by faith.” And upon making the correct decision, He will take our leftovers and cause them to multiply exponentially. He will take a loaf and cause it to feed five thousand. He will cause us to have more than we have room enough to handle. Because then the Lord knows He has a man who can be trusted. He has a man who values what He values. That man can be entrusted with much!
For more on this subject….Listen to Andy Stanley’s free Podcast on ITunes entitled….”Choosing to Cheat”
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