I have begun the second trilogy of articles concerning marriage. The first had the one-word title, Cabbagetown. This one has a two-word title, Doing All. After a while this article will be moved to its appropriate place on the We Do page. This second set of three articles has to do with marriage and ministry.
I started out imploring you to "share the dream". That is, to be serving together and following a similar path in ministry. I believe that is part of what the Bible means in II Corinthians 6:14 when it tells us to be "equally yoked" in marriage.
When you share the dream your effectiveness is incredibly heightened. I believe God can use a couple working together much more than He can use the same two people separately. That is because you can provide support for each other. You can also give encouragement when necessary. And, or course, you can offer "course corrections" when needed.
In a nutshell, obedient service to God can be summed up by one phrase, "doing all for the glory of God". Our service to Him may be voluntary, but it is not optional. Our faith is only completed by our service. Not only are we saved to serve, but I believe we are also married to serve. And to serve together.
Accepting that as a given, then, means being married equals doing all for the glory of God. Doing all. In my first article on marriage I listed a few things I thought our marriage vows might mean when they ask, "Do you?". That article was entitled Do. Well, I want to extend that into our shared ministry, which is why this one is called, Doing All.
I previously suggested that in our marriages we should do those things Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to think about. In John 15 Jesus teaches us that we are the branches of a vine. He commands us to "bear fruit". The evidence a branch is alive and viable is fruit. If there is no life (fruit) proceeding from the branch, then there is no life in the branch.
So, what fruit do we need to bear? What does it mean to be "doing all" together? Discipleship, evangelism, and missions are quite interconnected.. In the Bible book of James, true religion, religion that God accepts, is defined as meeting the need of those around us and keeping ourselves pure before Him. I believe doing all would include doing everything in our power to:
Show love to our neighbors. Even those whose music is too loud, whose kids are too unruly, or whose homes and yards are too unkempt.
Be a positive influence to those around us. What jokes do you laugh at in order not to "stick out"?
Be actively involved in helping others. Notice the word "active".
Meet the needs of people around us. Of course that means taking the time and effort to learn what those needs are, not just waiting for those with the need to make them known to you.
Lift the poor out of their poverty. Yes, that may include giving money. Be wise, not stingy.
Feed those who are hungry, but not only that, help them become able to feed themselves. Do they need a job your company could provide?
Provide shelter, both short tern and long term, to the homeless.
Come to the aid of those who are oppressed. Meaning take up the fight for ones who are mistreated by those who hold power over them.
Get necessary medical attention to those who are sick. Medical attention and medication is not "medicating demons". It is providing comfort to hurting people. Quick rule of thumb: if medication helps, it is not a demon!
Make life a little more comfortable for those who are disabled. This could mean providing proper equipment or supplies, but it could also be going out of our way to give a little understanding. And keep in mind not all disabilities are physical and easily recognizable. It make occasionally require a little effort on our part.
Restore those who have fallen. We are quick to "pounce" on those whom sin has snared, but are we perfect?
Begin looking for ways you and your family can be "doing all". And do it together. Maybe you will decide that 4 TV's and 3 video games are enough for any one household and invest in others next time a gift-giving season comes along. After all, how much wrapping paper needs to be scattered on the floor for it to feel like Christmas (or a birthday or anniversary)?
And, if you're single, keep in mind these two things:
1-- All these articles about marriage should serve as a road map for finding God's mate for you if your path of life includes marriage. 2-- You do not have to wait, nor should you, in order to begin serving God in any of the ways described throughout Destination God.