NEXT

One thing I often forget when looking at preparing to come to a conference like NEXT, is preparing myself and even expecting to be used by God to serve others. I struggle with seeing this event as just a time to “receive from God”, which undoubtedly it is… but as Church life is not about simply receiving but giving as well, so it is with NEXT. Be expectant that God wants to and will use you in other peoples lives just as people have been used in yours!

I can also suffer from being oddly self focused and selfish during the NEXT conference. It is a very special time for us to interact with God, yet sometimes I get distracted by what I want God to do in my life, what I need, what blesses me, how I feel, and other things (which are not bad per-sea).  I can ignore others needs and opportunities to serve them because I am distracted by WHAT I NEED NOW!

God often meets our needs when serving others. Now I’m not encouraging us to be a group of Martha’s, but sometimes we can be so determined to sit at Jesus’ feet, that we can pass the lame man on the way. Am I, are you, willing to sacrificially serve at this conference? Are we willing to set aside time with friends to serve a need we see spiritually, physically or otherwise… Are we willing to put aside our own “needs” if God calls us to that to aid another? I mean come on! We just spent 125+ dollars to come to this conference (not including all other costs it entail)s… and we did all this just so we can serve? (By the way a great deal of people putting on the NEXT conference are doing just that for us, some of them year in and year out.)

God gave me a picture a while ago that really encouraged me in my serving and I hope it serves you.

There was a worn man hoeing in a vast empty field to no avail. He is working consistently, desperately. He knows if he does not till the soil and plant the seed he will lack the food to live.
After hours and much pain with little advancement in his field he stops to rest and looks up. In the distance he sees a tired man toiling in futility as well. As he sweats under the blazing midday sun, watching the other man, a struggle is born in his heart.
Finally with a heavy sigh the worn man picks up his hoe and walks the many acres of empty, hard land and begins to work next to the tired man in his field. The tired man looks up in surprise and simply the presence of another brings a smile to his face despite the futility of their actions and the doom that seems inevitable.

They till the earth for hours and as they look back they see they made minor headway, even though to them it is as if they tilled a mile. They look at each other, smile, and continue to work as hope is born.

The worn man pauses as the other continues to works. He looks around as if hearing something. Turning back around to look at his own field there is a massive machine tilling his earth. He is dumbstruck and the other he is helping does not even notice.

I need to remember God does not provide in the manner I think, because I think strangely, warped. I should not be so distracted by my position that I SELFISHLY pursue personal holiness. As I sacrificially serve and till in another field, that is not my own, do I think God will let me starve?  He will not let my soul go hungry. He will not let my well run dry. He will till the earth of my heart and fill the stream of my soul.

Whether we are challenged to serve or sit at His feet, we must remember HE provides and changes us. We don’t have to be in the session (though I’d encourage you not to miss a single one), we don’t have to be the one being prayed for (but don’t miss an opportunity for prayer), we don’t even have to have the right heart (though it makes it a lot easier) all we need is God. So we don’t have to be worried about getting all we can out of NEXT and miss an opportunity to help someone else get all they can out of it. 

What are some practical ways to serve at NEXT?