A Maverick Servant: Thanksgiving in Action
If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us…~2 Cor 5:13-14 NIV
We are asked to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise” (Ps 100:4). Yes, this can be the ‘gates’ of His presence in our intimate moments with God. But could it be that since God is always in our presence, that every ‘gate’, door, room, relationship, or situation we enter should be with thanksgiving and praise?
I drove past a little store this morning and as I did I felt led to do something for someone there that I don’t know very well. (I won’t tell where it was or what I wanted to do for the sake of privacy.) I kept driving to run my errand down the road as what I thought of doing was a little silly. Then when I passed back, kind of in a rush to get home and get some work done before the kids get home and the holiday travel begins, the thought came to me again, but I passed up the store.
But at the next corner I made a U-turn because it was strange that this thought wouldn’t go away and I try to be sensitive to whether it may be the Spirit leading me when this happens. So I just did the little thing that I felt led to do and to my delight the person was overjoyed and ran around the counter to give me a hug. It only cost me a little time, effort and money, but everyone received a lot in return! They felt great…I felt great…and I bet the Lord felt great because of the edifying of one of His children from my obedience, despite how silly I may have felt.
I used to feel guilty because my strengths or desires didn’t lie in some of the physical service areas like cleaning people’s houses or doing yard work for them when they could not, cooking for church potlucks or those who are sick, etc… And I’ve learned that there is a time to step up and minister in areas that are not your strengths; however, our best service with willing, joyful hearts occurs when we serve with the gifts, talents, burdens and abilities that God planted inside of us when we were created–or in those passion areas that are born out of our own experiences. If we all did that there probably wouldn’t be many needs unmet!
On a similar note, serving through giving thanks and praise to others is most beautiful when it is not only during the holiday season that society dictates is time to give to others, but rather when you are spontaneously compelled by the Spirit of God to be the heart, hands and feet of Jesus during the ordinary moments of others’ lives to make them feel extraordinary! So during this Thanksgiving season–and all year round–I challenge you to become a maverick servant!
A maverick is defined as “a person who takes an independent stand, refusing to conform to that of his group”. Go radically beyond that which is normally expected in the area of serving others. Yes, donate to charities and spend time there. But what type of service can you do that stands out, that doesn’t conform to the typical perception of service…in your own home…own neighborhood…own center of influence? I see Jesus as the ultimate example of a maverick servant and I think that if we follow in His footsteps, we too must find our own unique way of being salt…being light…being a maverick!
So you may say…”It’s not in my personality. What can I do? I don’t have enough money to give to people. I don’t know anyone. I’m too shy to go up to people. I’m worried about what people will think of me. I don’t have time.” Well, Jesus gave us the perfect example of servanthood. Wherever He was, whenever it was, whatever He had, whoever was around Him–He was just a blessing in that moment according to their need and what He felt he should give. We must train ourselves to have intentional focus on not just doing service, but walking in service and being tuned in to the Spirit’s leading 24/7…365 (yes, and 366 on leap year)!
You know, this type of thing wasn’t a regular part of my routine or personality either–I am an introvert by nature and used to struggle with being extremely uncomfortable in social situations, but through not just the limited power of self-help, but also through the unlimied power of Spirit-help–as I’ve made myself available to God’s Spirit for growth and service–“Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8)–my heart is ever transforming into more of a servant heart and my external actions are following as I walk in my calling, not only as a profession, but as a unique person and as a child of God. I serve not for tax write-offs, not for pats on the back, not for holiday checklists, not just to be nice, not because the church class is doing it as a project, but because I cannot help myself–I am compelled and propelled forward into being Christ to others in the unique and special way that God intended just for me.
So don’t despair if it does not seem natural to you, if you do not even desire to do these things at this time. ”Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Col 4:2, Phil 1:6, Ez 36:26-27)
I think sometimes we avoid doing things for others that may seem maverick-like because we feel embarrassed or ashamed of what we are about to do or what it may stand for before someone else, especially an unbeliever. “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words…the Son of man will be ashamed of him…” (Mark 8:38) When the Bible says this I don’t only think about direct evangelism or proclaiming my belief. But I also think of not being ashamed to live the way He has called us to live. We are called to live holy lives of servanthood, to “come out from them and be separate…” (2 Cor 6:17). ”Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (Ja 1:27)
I am not ashamed to say no to attending an offensive movie when others are going, to ask someone to change the radio station when the music is ungodly (and tune in to my favorite contemporary Christian radio station KSBJ here in Houston!), to serve in ways that even may seem embarrassing to me or make others who do not understand the Word think I am being foolish. I do this not in my own power, but in the power of the Spirit and reverence of my Lord. What really matters is pleasing God, not man. “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10)
I don’t know about you, but “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matt 25:21) are the words that I long to hear not only in Heaven but every day, every moment on this earth, as much as it is in my power–His power. I want blessings, but more than that I want to be a blessing to ALL people that I come in contact with–even those who do not mean to bless me.
So what can you do to be a maverick servant? Here are some examples:
- When a restaurant server or store cashier is indifferent or rude to you, acknowledge their feelings and ask if they’re having a tough day and perhaps just meet their need to be heard or to be seen as a human and not just someone there to do the task at hand.
- Buy gift cards to keep in your wallet, purse or car and when you see the school crossing guard or the garbage collection truck workers, go up to them and express how much you appreciate and are thankful for the job that they do in service of your family and community.
- Walk into Hallmark and buy a beautiful card, pay for it and then turn around and give it to the cashier expressing thanks for their service.
- When you see the person at the corner of the busy street holding a sign asking for food or work, instead of judging them, ask the Lord if you are meant to touch their lives. Even if you are skeptical about their situation, you don’t have to give money if you are not at peace with that. But what can you give that will show that God cares about their soul? An invitation to come to your church? A restaurant value meal with a small Bible? Stop, be honest that you have nothing to give, and pray with them for their needs to be met?
- When you see a mom with screaming or misbehaving children in her shopping cart, offer friendly words of acknowledgement or encouragement? When a child at a restaurant or on an airplane is making noise or keeps trying to interact with you, be a light to that child and parent instead of contributing to the discomfort the parent may already feel as others give annoyed glances. Offer to play with the child or strike up a conversation with the parent.
- Seek out someone who has frustrated you the most this year, pray about how God can use you in their life, and say or do something nice for them that they would never expect, especially from you. Or simply respond to them in a godly manner instead of reacting in the way that you normally might. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for the honor of God. “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” (Pr 25:21-22)
- Don’t be so focused on and caught up in the business of your busyness that you forget about the business of God. Keep an open mind while you go throughout your day, noticing people’s facial expressions, tones of voices, situations, needs and seek the Spirit as to whether you are to serve them in that moment. We “Marthas” and “Marys” don’t just play those roles in our homes, but also outside in the world. How can you sit at the feet of Jesus as you drive down the street? go into the bank teller line? walk through the grocery store aisles?
- Pray earnestly that you may be aware of opportunities for God to use you in other people’s lives. Take mental note (or written note if you tend to forget) of things that are valuable, positive, or special about other people–friends, family, strangers, enemies–and share spontaneously or make a ”premeditated” plan to share that information with them either straightforward or in a creative way.
Do these types of things with or in front of your children. Invite your relatives, friends and co-workers to participate–not forcing obligatory projects and not to bring praise to yourself–but so that they can see the natural overflowing love of God active in your life.
Sometimes God may not put the thought in our mind of exactly what it is that you can do for someone else and sometimes ideas may not come easily to everyone. So I welcome and encourage you to forward this article to others, post your ideas, comments or stories about being compelled by Christ’s love to be a maverick servant to someone else. Your idea may be what makes all the difference in someone else’s life! And if you need some ideas of how to serve another person, feel free to post a question and I’d be glad to support you in brainstorming some ideas.
I encourage you to find some way this week to be a maverick servant! To give someone else something unexpected to be thankful for–to step out of your comfort zone for Christ and do something you wouldn’t normally do for the sake of another! Man may have invented the Thanksgiving season, but God created real Thanksgiving and it is to be in thought and action every day!
Christian Life Coaching Call to Action:
1. Do things ever come into your head out of nowhere? Could it be the Spirit? Do you pass back again or think twice to be sure that you are hearing what you think you are or just ignore it and go on with your busy schedule? Do you obey or ignore?
2. Your type of service to the world may not look like everyone else’s. And even if you already serve in the church in a formal way, it could be that there are some things that you could be doing in your everyday life out in the world for believers and non-believers alike that can bring joy and meaning to the lives of others. What things do you always feel passionate about or enjoy doing for other people that you may not do as much as you feel led to–or perhaps have never done out of embarrassment or fear?
3. Do you feel like you never really hear from God about what you could be doing to serve? Make it an intention to have more silent time with the Lord to seek a spiritual heart transplant! To receive a new heart filled with the servant love of God–a heart compelled to serve by Christ’s love!
4. Have you lost touch with or perpahs just have no idea what passions you really have that you can use? Or do you not feel a sense of higher purpose or calling and wonder what that might be for you? You don’t have to sit, wait and wonder. Find a friend, spiritual mentor or coach to help you with self-discovery and life strategies to put into practice those things that you were made for and start experiencing more joyful, purposeful and passionate living, feeling compelled to serve others out of your overflow!
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