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.

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