I attend a monthly Men’s Breakfast at my church. It’s a great breakfast with eggs, bacon, country potatoes, and over 200 men as we gather to hear different lessons taught by the pastor or a visiting speaker. We eat, sing, talk, and learn. It’s a great morning.
In 2022 we have been going through a series called Profiles In Courage where the lessons center around men being courageous in tumultuous times. It’s imperative, more than ever, that we are courageous and learn from those who have faced difficult circumstances and endured them with bravery. Throughout the Bible and in recent history we have thousands of men and women to learn from.
One example given at a recent breakfast was that of Helen Roseveare. She was a medical missionary in the Congo in the 1960s. After serving there as a Doctor providing munch needed care for the people for over a decade, Congo rebels took over, imprisoned her, and brutally beat her and raped her for five months.
During these terrible dark days she cried out to God and asked Him, “Is it worth it?”
When faced with trials and opposing headwinds, and physical harm, we ask the same question, don’t we? Is it worth it? Should I quit? Should I just stop and give up now?
As is the case with many missionary prayers, God had a response to Helen’s prayer. She reflects on God’s response when she said, “It seemed the price was too high to pay. And then God seemed to say, ‘Change the question from “Is it worth it? To “Is He worthy?”’” (See Link Below)
Therein lies the question we all need to ask ourselves. “Is He worthy?”
The work we do has value and is intended to produce a result. Even God Himself said that one of the many blessings workers have is the blessing of enjoying the fruits of their labor. The Book of Proverbs is filled with encouraging words for the hard worker who desires to be rewarded for working diligently as well as warnings for the lazy. God even promises to bless the work of our hands when we do so according to His prescribed ways.
But what happens when we don’t see results? Or we are harmed in the process. Is it worth it?
Just as I was challenged at this breakfast to change the question, I now challenge you to ask a different question.
If you truly are working, managing, and leading your business for Him, is He worth it?
Is He worth it?
What are you willing to give up and endure because He is worthy of it?
Take some time to reflect on that question. Let it marinate on your heart and soul.
Prayer
Lord, may my life reflect my answer to your question, “Are You Worthy?” and what I know to be true. Yes, You are worth it. Even more so, You are the ONLY thing worth pursuing for everything else will fade away one day, but only You will remain. Help me to serve You better and forgive me for the thousands of times I have worked for lesser things. Amen.
Link to Article: https://mustardseedbudget.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/helen-roseveare-in-congo.png
Books available on Amazon about her and by her: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Helen+Roseveare&crid=2V35217OUK3RJ&sprefix=helen+roseveare%2Caps%2C111&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Roseveare
Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash
