I was exchanging texts with one of my counseling interns today, and we were ‘talking’ about impact. And in the course of the interaction I typed,
“1st
Peter 1:17 admonishes us, ‘We serve a God who judges men according to their
actions.’”
And
I went on to write,
“As
Christians God entrusts one or ten or a hundred people in our care, and allows
us to exercise impact according to His own singular will.”
And
shortly after I typed those words I thought,
“You
know, it doesn’t much matter if we impact one or ten or a hundred, or a
thousand or a million physically, emotionally or spiritually… as long as we
make a difference in the lives of those whom He sets in our own individual
pathway.”
One
of my former counseling interns has gone on to work with the Christ for all
Nations organization. She served as an assistant to the late founder of this
ministry, Reinhard Bonnke, and continues in this role under the new president,
Daniel Kolenda. This ministry has impacted multiplied millions of people,
inestimably larger numbers than even the Billy Graham organization. In fact,
CfaN has ministered to the largest number of people ever gathered together in
one place, as well as collectively as a total of all its meetings, in the
history of the world.
I
have seen photos and videos of the CfaN African crusades, and the masses of
people seem to stretch to the horizon with well over one and a half million
people in every meeting. Of course, I am in awe of such numbers, and humbled
that God gave me the opportunity to influence the young lady of whom I have
alluded. As part and parcel of such an amazingly influential ministry Alyssa
has gone on to impact the lives of countless more individuals than I ever have,
will or could, and I can only imagine God’s resounding “Well Done” which she
and the others in this ministry will hear on that Day.
Pt.
2
However,
there are those among us whose impact is limited to one or two, and who will remain
all but unknown, except to the God who knows all, sees all, and is incapable of
forgetting our ministry to the lost and hurting of this world, be it one or be
it multiplied thousands.
The
Jewish people have an adage which has been increasingly burnt into the fiber of
my being:
“He
who saves just one life saves the entire world.”
In
Matthew Chapter 25 Jesus speaks of impact using the analogy of a man who goes
on a journey, and who lends his three servants’ different amounts of money, to
do what they would and could with it, in order to increase the profitability of
the principal.
To
one He gives 5 talents, to one He gives 2 talents, and to one He gives 1
talent. The first two men invest the money and experience an increase. The
third man hides the money, and all he has when the Master returns is the
original amount with which he began.
Quite
obviously this parable refers to Christ and the believers who have lived
throughout the ages since His resurrection. The money with which He entrusted
the men in the parable refers to the expectations He invested in us as
individuals; before He breathed the worlds into place.
And,
of course, the man who returns from His journey refers to the return of Jesus
Christ from the heavens to receive believers into His eternal kingdom; at which
time He will call on each of us to give an account for what we did with His
plans and purposes.
It
is interesting to me that each of the three servants were entrusted with
varying amounts of money. However, the two who invested their Master’s money,
(again, synonymous with the potential impact He affords us) each heard the same
“Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Pt.
3
As
I have previously inferred, and as the foregoing parable implies, it is not about
the size of the mission, but rather it is about the willingness of the servant
to accomplish whatever plans God has entrusted him or her to fulfill; whether
large or small.
To
return to the example of the amazing impact of the Christ for all Nations organization.
Whereas multiplied millions of souls have been ushered into the kingdom as a
result of the outreach of this ministry, what are we to do with a man who once
ministered on the same continent, but… well, allow me to share the following
illustration with you.
Our
pastor once told the story of a missionary, (I forget his name), but who was a
member of a well-known industrial family. He labored in Africa for decades, and
experienced a great deal of discouragement, (and not for no reason). For you
see, over the course of forty or fifty years living on the dark continent, he
never saw a single soul come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ! Yet, who
can nay-say this devoted minister’s noble efforts?
I
am reminded of another of my counseling interns whose mission is, (at least for
the time being) devoted to one man. She ministers to a man who suffers with a
debilitating illness. She cooks for him. She cleans his house for him. She
takes him to doctor appointments. She gives him his medications. He is entirely
dependent upon her. Though Judy’s mission is all about one man, her impact is
huge!
Afterward
In
our culture size has become the primary factor in defining success, even among
the Christian community. However, Christ’ parable, and the practical working
out of His will among millions of believers assures us that our Lord defines
success in an altogether different manner.
Spiritual
success was, is and will always be about our willingness to make a difference
in the lives of those whom God sets in our pathway; be they many or few.
“He
who saves just one life saves the entire world.”
by William McDonald, PhD, Copyright pending
Father
God, I pray for believers around the world who are going about your business on
a daily basis. I ask God that you would bless, help and encourage them in their
pursuit of your plans for their lives whether they are actively involved in the
winning of souls, or the preparation of your people for service and maturity in
the Faith. Father, I ask that you would encourage your people that success
represents far more than numbers or the size of a ministry, and can quite
possibly involve the assistance and encouragement of a single needy soul. Help
us, Lord to be an extension of your healing hand and loving heart. In Christ
Name. Amen.
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