A new commandment
I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you
also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you have love for one another. (John 13:34, 35)
In the fifty plus years I have worked with congregations, one question plagued
me in every congregation: “What can we do?” Needs and opportunities always are
greater than resources. More money is needed. More room is needed. More parking
spaces are needed. More teaching materials are needed. More teachers are needed.
More ministries are needed. More outreach is needed. More volunteers are needed.
More involvement is needed. More leadership is needed. It never ends! Always
more is needed!
I used to think that “if we could just obtain that (or be able to do that)”
everything would be okay. However, what I thought was the key only promoted more
growth (a good thing) that generated new stress produced by new needs and
opportunities.
Last week a conflict arose, quietly was resolved, and passed with few noticing.
Two ministries that are growing and serving urgent needs planned to use the same
space at the same time. Thankfully, it was discovered that two good works were
on a head-on collision. One ministry devised and used an alternate plan that
enabled both ministries to meet and serve the needs of both groups. This was
done so quietly that most thought it was planned to happen as it did.
Why? Why was there no uproar, no hurt feelings, no confrontation, or no
accusations that “our ministry is more important than yours?” Love said both
ministries are equally important. Love said, “Let’s make it work.” Love said,
“Our ministries are not in competition—each serves the over-all objective of
helping people.”
Will we—even with good intentions—always avoid internal conflicts? No! Even with
our best efforts and best coordination, there will be times when collisions
occur. We will never demonstrate how much we love each other in moments when all
is well AS we demonstrate in moments of potential crisis. It is in the potential
crisis “that never existed” that it becomes obvious how much we love each other!
May love for each other and Jesus Christ always reign among us! May our love
declare, “We belong to Jesus!”
David Chadwell
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