Are You Serving God - the Wrong Way?

Have you ever really poured yourself into a task which seemed to you to be absolutely right and godly – only to have it “blow up in your face”? Do you find yourself wondering where God is, or why He hasn’t blessed your efforts to serve Him? The following true story may help you to understand your own dilemma: The impoverished little nation of Haiti is able to offer only scant employment opportunities for healthy and ambitious citizens. Haitians who are elderly, ill, or otherwise limited face extreme difficulties, and there are no government programs to assist them. Those who have physical disabilities face even greater odds. Imagine the life of individuals who are hearing impaired! There is no government assistance, and communication problems make it impossible for them to compete for the few meager jobs which they might be able to do. A dedicated missionary couple from the United States – let’s call them “Sam and Alice” – felt led to establish a Haitian mission to minister to the hearing impaired. Although there were limited training programs which reached a few select individuals in Port-au-Prince (Haiti’s capital city), there was nothing available to those who lived out in the provinces. The Haitian government donated land for the mission, and facilities were constructed. Nice dormitories and classrooms made it possible to establish a residential training program, and hearing impaired children were welcomed into a wholesome environment where the children had daily short devotionals, learned sign language, and were taught employable skills. The agreement specified that youth would remain at the facility until they reached age 18, at which time they were expected to “graduate” and return to their homes or find other appropriate employment and lodging. The program seemed to be succeeding, but the founders were reaching advanced age, and needed to retire. They turned the project over to a younger couple – we’ll call them “John and Mary” who were also well qualified, and devout, dedicated Christians. John had well established credentials in modern agricultural techniques, so they expanded the facilities with greenhouses, chicken houses, and other agricultural ventures, making the mission compound much more nearly self sufficient. There was trouble looming, though, because even though the students excelled within their closed community, they were ill fitted to return to village life. Problems arose when some of the “graduating” students were unable to find suitable employment or lodging. Even though they knew sign language, nobody “on the outside” did, so they were still unable to communicate in society. They begged to be allowed to remain on site until they could find somewhere to go. Because the missionaries were kind, loving folks, they allowed the “graduates” to remain on a temporary basis, while encouraging them to keep looking for other options. As the resident “graduates” aged, they began to feel that they were really entitled to remain there permanently. At the same time, they developed an attitude of resentment that they were asked to care for chickens, goats, and other animals, and to perform other chores. “We came here to go to school, not to care for chickens”, they complained. Eventually, these “grumblers” recruited thugs from the lawless element which has risen in Haiti, and they literally drove the missionaries from the compound, at gunpoint. Because the nation is so weak, the police were powerless to assist the missionaries (if, indeed, they actually wanted to help). Fearing for their lives, the heartbroken couple was forced to abandon most of their possessions and went, as refugees, to another mission. The younger students, lacking teachers or sustenance, soon returned to their villages. It seemed that all of John and Mary’s efforts, and even their prayers, were of no avail. Eventually, the “rebels” who had taken over the mission ran out of food and other supplies, and abandoned the compound. When the John and Mary realized that the facilities were abandoned, they went back – very cautiously – just long enough to padlock the facilities. It seemed too dangerous to remain on site. The facility remained vacant and abandoned, and quickly fell into disrepair. This sounds like a really tragic story, doesn’t it? Some skeptics might ask, “Where is God when you really need Him?” How heartbreaking for those faithful, committed missionaries! That isn’t the end of the story, though. John and Mary began going into the villages where their students had returned home, teaching hearing impaired children wherever they found them. Their curriculum was based directly on the Bible – and curious villagers came out to watch the lessons. As a result, a larger group than that in the original mission heard the gospel, and at the same time, learned the basics of sign language. Because the curious villagers learned sign language, the hearing impaired students now could communicate with others in their own villages, and in other villages where the missionaries ministered. In fact, their situation somewhat reflects a much earlier event, the culmination of which is recorded in Genesis 50. Genesis 50:20a KJV “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good. . .” If you are struggling to serve the Lord, and it seems that nothing is working out right – take a break and ask the Lord, “Father, did I hear you correctly, or am I going about this in the wrong way?” It may be that you are actually Serving God – the wrong way!