When people pass through our ministry, particularly those who are very involved in what we do, their testimony is always that of appreciation; “Pastor, thank you for the privilege of serving in Church. What I have become under the ministry is helping me greatly where I am today.” These are people who understand service. They see it as being made, not being used.
Friend, nobody can use you, not even God! God makes people through the instrumentality of service. This was why Jesus said, “follow me and I will make you…” (Matthew 4:19). The difference between being made and being used is perspective. While someone sees the demands of service as a making process, another sees it as being used.
You must not live life with this popular mentality of “use and dump”; the thinking that you only contributed to a person, a place or a venture with nothing to show for it. What you need to realise is that the greatest reward for service or involvement in any worthwhile venture is not what you get but who you become. What you are becoming is more important than what you are getting.
Perhaps, as a young lady, you are staying with an aunt and doing all the chores in the house; don’t think you are being used, you are actually being made; into a wife, a home maker. If at your place of work, everything revolves around you and you seem to be doing more than you are paid, don’t worry; you are being made, not used. You are developing into a business owner. Are you the errand boy in Church? Ask Timothy how he became a Bishop (Acts 16:1-3, Philippians 2:19-22)!
When David was abandoned in the wilderness to take care of his father’s sheep, the brothers might have thought that they were using him without realising that they were actually helping him to develop his leadership and shepherding skills (1 Samuel 16:11-13, Psalms 78:70-72). When you face life with the mindset of being made, you would stop complaining. You would stop attaching your worth and reward to what you are getting. You would start responding to who you are becoming. Amen.
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria