It’s Just Underwear!

You know…we make this S-O-O-O hard…oh my…God is asking me to do something…I can’t…I’m not qualified…blah…blah..blah. 

I just met with a friend of mine today and he is going through a transition, and it reminded me about the first time that we met.  We were working on jumpstarting the Men’s Ministry at our Church, and when we met…we were talking about the very first line in this blog.  It reminded me of a story that I told him that day…and one that I will never forget…here goes.

Okay…now back to the underwear!  One of my many big failures (but a great lesson) in serving Christ goes like this: 

I was on a trip to Hawaii for a conference (I know…tough life) and one evening, I was walking downtown to get something to eat.  I noticed a man in a wheelchair.  He obviously was homeless, and looked pretty ragged, and God put the idea in my head to go ask him what he needed.  I really didn’t want to (it was a LOT out of my comfort zone)…but God told me to anyway, so “reluctantly” I did. 

I asked him if he wanted some food from McDonald’s, and he said sure…so I brought him back what he had asked for, and then God said, well…why don’t you sit down and eat with him.  Again…I didn’t want to, but God told me to…so I did.  I noticed that he constantly looked around, and I asked him, “why”?  He told me that the Police would give him a hard time if they see him in the same place, so he had to stay on the move.  Yikes, a homeless guy in a wheel chair, having to stay on the move to not get hassled by police…I thought my life was demanding.  I asked him where he stayed in the evening, he told me…but didn’t offer to show me, and I didn’t care about pursuing it further.  I really didn’t want to know “too much” so I wouldn’t be “obligated” further.

 Again…God put it on my heart to ask him what he needed.  I imagined that he would ask for money, or a new wheel chair, or a place to stay or something like that.  His response really shocked me.  He said, “I could really use some underwear.”   I said, “that’s it??? Underwear?”  He said, yeah…it’s just nice to feel clean.  Wow…I was convicted!!  While I thought he would ask for something huge like, giving him “my” hotel room…. or money for the hospital…he just wanted one simple thing…clean underwear.  The stores were closed by that time, but I told him…I can do that…I will get you some tomorrow.  My failure was that I didn’t do it!!  This poor guy asked me one simple thing….and I didn’t do it.  I think about that occasionally…and it has been a good lesson.

 While I tend to think that God is going to demand me to take on some huge challenge…he just wants me to do some little things.  But the cool thing is that after that…he will ask you to do just a little more…and that process continues.  It is kind of like climbing a mountain.  If you look at the top of the mountain from the bottom, you probably will never climb it…the task will look too daunting.  BUT…if you just put your head down and start climbing, before you know it…you have made a bunch of progress, and that huge mountain isn’t quite so high, and that insurmountable task now isn’t quite so insurmountable.

 Dan, how in the world does that apply to the Men’s Ministry?????

I get a lot of comments that guys don’t feel qualified to get in the game (let’s face it…initially…nobody is), or that they don’t have time to fit “it” in their schedules (I know that is far too often true), or that they will get involved “later.”  Unfortunately, the Bible looks it a different way.  Jesus reminds us in Matthew 11: 28-30 ”Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  ”For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  I think that means he won’t ask for more than we are capable of…or more than we can handle.

When we are doing things for Christ and with Christ, he will equip us, and find a way to make it easy for us, and with all of us pulling together; we will be able to do amazing things.  For that reason, if God is telling you to get involved….DO IT!!  “He will neither leave nor forsake you!!”   

The only difference between being “in” the game…and being “out” of the game…is the first step on the field.  God will take care of the rest of it….and He will take you on a ride that you won’t believe….and it will be one that is FAR BETTER than any that you could plan for yourself.  Consider this…1 Corinthians 2:9 – However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” 

Get in the game guys…God will NOT let you down.  It’s just underwear!  Have a great day!  Dan