It’s one thing to minister to people when you’ve got the occasion on the calendar and have time to prepare, spiritually, mentally, and physically: working in the nursery, sharing a testimony, hosting a family or group in your home, helping someone after surgery, etc.
It’s another thing when a need arises totally unexpectedly. It doesn’t usually happen when life is peaceful and we’re all caught up with our to-do list.
I think of the man Jesus spoke of called the Good Samaritan. He was traveling for business one day when he found a man on the roadside, beaten and left for dead. He could have gone on his way and not gotten involved. Two other men in the story did. Plus, the Samaritans and Jews were enemies. But he went out of his way to help. With a great expenditure of time, effort, and money, the Samaritan put the injured man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, cared for him, and paid the innkeeper for the man’s expenses, promising to reimburse him for any additional costs.
Or Abraham’s three unusual and unexpected visitors in Genesis 18. He encouraged them to rest, brought water for them to wash their feet, picked out one of his calves, and had one of his men butcher and cook it. That must have taken hours. Yet he was glad to do it.
I’m afraid I am not always so gracious when a need arises out of the blue. I try to remember to ask for God’s guidance and direction at the beginning of the day. So I like to think the plans I make are directed by Him. Then when those plans are overturned or something unexpected comes up, it’s easy for me to get frustrated at the interruption. Yet He is in charge even of the interruptions. He knew what would be coming that day. I often wish He’d let me know. 🙂 But He wants me to trust Him with all circumstances.
Recently I was arrested by the phrase “Holy Inconvenience” in a spoken-word poem titled “a blessing.” It often is an inconvenience to serve in any way, isn’t it?
Even when a ministry is planned, it often takes more time and thought and energy than anticipated. Or someone gets sick or the roof starts leaking or some ingredient is missing.
But think how greatly Jesus was inconvenienced for us. He “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He left heaven’s glory to be born in a manger, live on a sinful earth, to teach people who didn’t understand Him, to share truth with those who opposed Him, to work whole days healing and ministering, going without food, having to get up early or stay up late to spend time with His Father. He touched those who were considered unclean. Then He suffered betrayal, ridicule, persecution, beating, and finally death . . . for us.
That makes an afternoon of cooking for company or a few hours studying to share a lesson seem paltry by comparison.
He doesn’t count it as paltry, though. He rewards giving a cup of water in His name (Mark 9:41). He won’t “overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10).
This doesn’t mean we can never say no to an opportunity. Jesus did sometimes.
But it does mean going out of our way to minister to others should be a normal event, not a rare occasion.
In fact, Jesus didn’t consider that He was going “out of His way” for us. In John 4:4, He “had to pass through Samaria” specifically to talk to the woman at the well. In Luke 9:51, He “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” His way was planned before the world began. He traveled the path He did on purpose.
He has a path and a ministry for us as well. He doesn’t always show us what they are ahead of time. But we’re to be ready “in season and out of season,” whether it’s convenient or not, to share the gifts He’s given us, to share Him and show His love to others. He has done so much for us. By His grace, let’s seek His help to minister to each other no matter the obstacles.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Ministering to another with love always as God commands, “Love One Another”
Yes—that’s the goal and motivation, though we often have to battle our flesh to do it.
Remembering that we’re not going out of our way when we help others changes everything. Thank you!
It was a light bulb moment to me to realize that should *be* our way, not out of our way.
“Holy inconvenience” is a really thought-provoking phrase. I like it, and I need to ponder it awhile. Our sermon this morning was about generosity, and that convenient generosity is not enough for a Christ-follower, so this idea of serving and giving with a joyful and gracious spirit no matter how inconvenient it may seem ties in with that. At least to me.
I was the same way when I first read that phrase–it resonated with me, but I had to ponder it a while. I can see how generous giving and ministering despite inconvenience tie in together. I’m much more selfish with my time than my finances, so it’s a bigger struggle to give that unexpectedly or beyond my comfort level.
A timely reminder, Barbara, as the holidays approach and our to-do lists expand and commitments increase. Holy inconveniences can become divine appointments. (Lord, help me remember!)
Me, too! If only we could learn something and have it stick forever.
This is something I struggle with! I have my days planned out, and it kind of bugs me to have a “wrench thrown in the works” so to speak. The other day my mom (on the phone) told me I should quit giving piano lessons for a year to come visit with her. My heart kind of sank. I feel like I admire people who do that (like you with your mother in law!) but I’m not sure I’m that person! I need to pray about it. I appreciate your thoughts here. I need to remember that the purpose of life is to love God and serve others–not to get through my mental to-do list.
That would be a big ask. I didn’t think I was the person to care for my mother-in-law, either. Your last sentence is an almost constant struggle for me.
Barbara, thank you for such a thoughtful post. It gives me much to ponder.
Great post! I’ve found as I grow older that if I have plans that are upset at that last minute, that it is more frustrating than before. It’s a good reminder that God’s plans for us are not always our plans. In fact, often it’s just the opposite. It’s also a good reminder that inconvenience for us could be of major importance to someone else.
“He is in charge even of the interruptions.” I’ve got to admit it really bums me out when things do not go as planned. But divine appointments come first. For some reason, He doesn’t choose to share in advance with me that these appointments are going to happen!
It would be nice if He always did. 🙂 But I guess it helps us trust and depend on Him more when we have to adjust in the middle of things.
“Holy inconvenience.” A thought provoking phrase and I love it. If we were to think of inconveniences as ‘holy’ our perspective would surely be different. We need to hold our plans loosely, remembering the Lord can and will change them as He deems best. Blessings!
God is “in charge even of the interruptions.” Such an important truth to remember, Barbara. I need to work on being ready and willing to serve “in season and out of season.”
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