The Reluctant Volunteers.
Why are we so reluctant to volunteer for anything? We take a job. Or a position in sports group, or industry, or the military only for the older wiser ones to tell us “never volunteer for anything”. Or maybe we are in a group or a line-up and one of the leaders calls out “could one volunteer step forward please?” And you are all pleased with yourself that you never stepped forward only to discover that everyone else took one step backwards and left you standing alone. Why don’t we volunteer for anything?
Is it because of “imposter syndrome?” Or because we don’t feel good enough, or qualified enough? Actually, such feelings and mind-sets are quite common among several walks of life. We doubt ourselves and our abilities so much that we don’t feel we should actually be doing what we have been chosen to do.
Or maybe we do not volunteer for the fear of looking foolish? No one wants to be made to look foolish. This only brings ridicule from our peers or colleagues.
I’ll be honest, I used to enjoy volunteering for things. For it got me away from the humdrum and routine of normal things. And then after the volunteering session was over my colleagues all wanted to know how I got along and what the volunteering session was about. In later years I used to take great delight in not telling them anything about what I had to do. If they’d wanted to know about it then they should have volunteered themselves.
Our Bible tells us of several people who were reluctant volunteers. Remember Gideon in the old testament book of Judges chapter 6? Verse eleven tells is that Gideon had gone out to thresh wheat. But that he had gone to a place where there was a winepress. In eastern cultures threshing floors are out in open areas so that the wind can carry off the chaff. But winepresses are usually in sunken pits so that the juices from the grapes can gather and be collected. But Gideon seems to have wanted to be away from the crowds during the threshing season.
All of a sudden a man appeared and said “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior”. To which Gideon replied, “Pardon me?”
After the initial start to the conversation God told Gideon to "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (v14) To which Gideon replied, “Pardon me?”
Gideon then tried to offer an excuse by saying “…how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." (15) To which God replied "I will be with you….” (v16)
The doubting Gideon then said in verse 17-18, "If now I have found favour in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. v18 Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you."
Gideon then went aside, slaughtered a young calf, made some broth with it. He then made some unleavened bread and brought it and set it before God. God told Gideon to set the meat and bread on a rock and pour the broth over it. God touched it with His staff. The meat, bread and broth burst into flames and were consumed by fire. Then God disappeared from Gideon’s sight.
When Gideon realised that it was God he had met with he was suddenly afraid for his life, for the Hebrews had been taught that any man who looks into the face of God will surely die. Then came the still small voice, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." v22-23. Gideon was a bit more obedient and confident for a while after that.
But Gideon was not the only reluctant volunteer. Remember Jonah? He also doubted God’s instructions. Jonah 1v3. The little book of Jonah is only 4 chapters long but it tells us of the prophet doubting God’s calling. And he ran away, only to be cast overboard from a ship which was travelling on the opposite direction. After spending three days at sea in the belly of a whale, Jonah ended up going to the City of Nineveh, which is where he was meant to go to in the first place.
And if we were to study our Bible and Church history we could discover many, many accounts of people who were reluctant volunteers. When, for some reason or another, they did not want to step up to the mark and do something for God, God met with them and convinced them that they were chosen for a task for God.
And the reasons for this reluctance are many. It may be a natural shyness, where we don’t feel comfortable being the centre of attention. But we must not forget that God is with us.
It may be that we have made a mistake in the past and don’t want to be seen in the spotlight again for fear of ridicule. But we must not forget that God is with us.
Or it may be that we have been deeply hurt, or had a trust betrayed by something in our past and we don’t want to feel that pain again. But again, we must not forget that God is with us.
You see, in one of the strange quirks of how God works in us, our deepest pain and shyness is where we find our strength. For it is there that Jesus is working with us, through us and in us.
The new testament contains copies of three letters that were written by the disciple John. And in the first one John says…
1st John 4v18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment……”
Because, as the Apostle Paul says in his letter to the church at Corinth…
2nd Corinthians 5v17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old man has gone, the new man is here!”
Jesus does not really want us to be reluctant volunteers. He wants us to step out boldly and in faith. Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Ephesus…
Ephesians 2v10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Did you notice that wee phrase at the end of that verse? “...which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
So, really. God doesn’t ask for volunteers. He has prepared a job for us to do. And there is only one person who can do that job. You. And me. We have been created to do a certain task for God and there is no one else who can do that task. God can make it happen, but we must make it work.
So, don’t be like Jonah, or Gideon. Step up and see what God wants for us to do. The instructions may not come in a blinding flash or a revelation. They will more than likely be a still strong voice in the quietness. But the voice will be unmistakable. He has prepared us for a task. No matter how great or small we are, or what age we are, while we live and breathe – We serve Him.
In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, Satan, you have to flee.
Who can tell what God can do?
Who can tell of His love for you?
In the name of Jesus, Jesus, we have the victory.
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