Sep 25, 2019
By Michaella Osborn
Clarkston, GA
In the last week, you’ve probably thought about quitting something. A job, school, a way you volunteer, something you care about, something you don’t care about. Maybe you’ve even thought about quitting a friendship or a relationship. I know because I’ve been in the same spot a lot lately. Sometimes we are so good at quitting we do it by accident. Here’s a list of things I’ve thought about quitting in the last week:
1. An exercise class I was taking
2. Fasting (I was on a fasting retreat with some of the students from the school
where I work)
3. Fasting (again, probably plus 4 or 5 more times)
4. My job (briefly after someone overscheduled events I have to be at)
5. Living in the city I live in (roaches)
6. Living with the roommates I live with (we’re moving and it’s been dramatic)
7. Ministry (It. Is. Hard.)
8. Living in the United States (too many expats in my social media feed)
9. Being a good friend (again, hard)
10. Writing this article (too many ideas, not enough substance)
But here’s another thing I know, you and me both, we have big dreams and want to do important things with our lives. We want to advance the Kingdom and build things that will last. Maybe we’re a little self-important, but ultimately, I think that the fact that our generation wants to see change happen in the world is a positive thing. But change doesn’t come from quitting.
In Matthew 25 Jesus tells a story to explain what the Kingdom of God is like. The story is about three servants who were entrusted with bags of gold as their master was away. Two of the servants put the money they were entrusted with to work and doubled what their master had given them. When he returns the master says to these servants, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). But the third servant simply buried the gold he was given. When the master returns he is angry and casts this servant out. Sometimes quitting things that are not for us in a season can be good, but if we quit the things that God has put in front of us we become like the unfaithful servant. Often times all that God is asking is for us to show up with the small things He’s given us to steward. And when we prove faithful with few things, we can be trusted with bigger things. How can you be faithful with what God has put in front of you this week?
