Shaun Groves
I’m off again this morning to speak on behalf of Compassion International. This time I’m in Pennsylvania and Montana speaking at a hard music festival, another festival and a church. Because, really, when anyone thinks “hard music” they immediately think of me. Specifically, me talking. Makes total sense, no?
It’s at times like these I have to remind myself of what exactly my job is before I even leave to do it. It’s only three things.
1. Exposure
My job is to expose Christians to what the bible says about their purpose and God’s compassion for the most vulnerable. God’s Word is the first and sharpest tool I’ve got.
2. Story
My job is to tell a true story that illustrates the need of the vulnerable and effectiveness of Compassion’s ministry through the local church to both body and spirit. Story gives statistics and programs a human face.
3. Opportunity
My job is to provide an audience with opportunities to respond to the Word of God. Those opportunities are not limited to sponsoring a child through Compassion International, but can also be consuming less, being more grateful, serving neighbors here at home, telling someone about Jesus, working less and spending more time with our own children, adopting, tithing, volunteering, praying, going on a mission trip, etc.
At a festival – especially a hard music festival – I’m an unknown interruption to the audience’s day of music, a commercial. I have no best-selling book. I have no hit on the radio. I don’t pastor a megachurch or lead a movement. And to make matters worse, I’m not wearing eyeliner. I’m a stranger on stage for a few minutes before the headliner melts the faces of thousands of appreciative attentive fans.
I have fifteen minutes to do my job. And when I walk off the stage I have to leave the rest of the work to God. This has been my greatest struggle this Summer, I confess.
It’s very difficult to do my job and not wonder if more children would be released from poverty if I’d been more persuasive, more heavy handed, more famous…just more.
My job is exposure, story and opportunity. Only.
God’s job is to move hearts and minds and wallets toward obedience and sacrificial generosity. His job is to be more than I am.
I can’t do God’s job. I need to stop wishing I could.
What’s your job? What’s Gods’?
And please continue to pray for Amy.
Michelle says:
I work in an op shop (thrift store) and every day we pray “It’s not our reputation on the line, Lord. It’s Yours. So use us as You will.”
Lindsay @ Not2Us.net says:
I think you should wear the eye-liner…it can only help! 🙂
I’m thankful for the part you played in exposing me to Compassion, for telling your story, and for giving me an opportunity to let God do further work in my life. I’m thankful for God’s continued work in my heart and mind.
Take heart! You’re doing a good job, and God will be faithful to do His job, as well.
Princess Leia says:
I feel similarly about evangelism. Our job is obedience, not “conversion.” That’s between the person and the Holy Spirit. If we take credit for it, then we’re taking credit for (and pride in) something only God can do. That’s dangerous territory, imo.
AJ says:
What a great reminder and an encouragement Shaun. Thanks for that.
PS – You might benefit from a little eyeliner… perhaps your wife can help you out. 😉
Jason says:
Wow…I think all our jobs are just the same as yours, Shaun. We just need to expose people to Christ, tell our story of how He changed us and give them an opportunity to meet Him too. Then get out of God’s way. 🙂
Megan says:
Another Shaun post I’ll be forwarding-this time to friends who share my calling-seeking to resource God’s Kingdom on earth.
“God’s job is to move hearts and minds and wallets toward obedience and sacrificial generosity. His job is to be more than I am.”
Thanks for that this morning-I needed it, Shaun.
shannon says:
My job is to provide an audience with opportunities to respond to the Word of God….I love this statment it can & does apply to everyone reguardless of our job/role or position in and out of the home.
Today Lord, Help me to remember that my job today is to provide opportunities for the audience I entertain to respond to the Word of God!
And please continue to pray for Amy.
Ron says:
Thanks for being who God has called you to be and endeavoring to then stay out of the way. Thank you for not having best selling books or hit music on the radio. Thank you for not pastoring a mega-church. Thank you for not leading a movement. I sometimes get lonely thinking that everybody but me does those things. Thank you for just pursuing your calling with as much faithfulness as you can muster. Now relax while God does the rest.
And if you start wearing eye liner I’m taking you off my blog roll.
Alyson says:
Wow. Just wow. I am a pastor’s wife, struggling with this same issue. It’s a long story, but lately I feel God telling me just what you wrote: There is nothing you can do to fix this. There is nothing you can do to control this. There is nothing you can do to make this better. There is nothing you can do….except obey and trust that I am God. I struggle so much with this, when it should be so easy. So, thank you for this post. It affirmed me today.
Robin Vestal says:
Philheena Heurtz (co director of Word made Flesh) has a quote that I have adopted to help me through these types of issues. “I am not in control, God is in control. I am not God, God is God)
Michael Patterson says:
I think for you it would be “guy-liner.”
Jill Foley says:
As an advocate for Compassion, my job is the same as yours. Thank you for the reminder that God plays a significant role in the outcome of my work.
Jennifer says:
Thank you for another transparent blog, Shaun. I really appreciate it. I recently started an online shop on Etsy to raise money to send gifts to my sponsored kids. I’m not very comfortable with the whole process, but to answer your question, my job is to create and God’s is to take care of the rest. Thanks for the reminder! God opened up this door and I have to keep telling myself that it’s God’s project, not mine.
If anyone wants to check out my shop and pray over it 🙂 it’s http://www.shopwithcompassion.etsy.com.
And Shaun, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. God has clearly called you to do this. No matter what you tried to be “more” of, you couldn’t improve His plan.
jen says:
Praying that you will say just what needs to be said – no more, no less.
Perhaps I should pray for wisdom regarding the use of eyeliner too?
Jackalynn says:
Have a good time. You’ll do just fine. Eyeliner would make your eyes pop. So if you wanna show off those…whatever color your eyes are sure stick some eyeliner on them suckers! As for the heavy handedness bash a guitar on stage or a drum kit or keyboard or something before you say anything then toss it to someone in the crowd.
Holly says:
I sitting here thinking that any man who can use the wisdom that God gave him to calm the masses in an airport… A man that can take shy, bloggers to Africa and flip their world upside down, any man who is focused on being the messenger from God, and not THE message… THat man will reach people in the crowd, heavy music or not…
Thanks for the reminder to me.
Montanabookworm says:
Just wanted to let you know what a blessing you were at Valley Bible Church this morning. You have an amazing message. My fifteen-year-old son and budding musician wanted to know what key you were playing in this morning? Thank you for your ministry.
Kelli says:
My job is to pour into the hearts of the three little people who were placed in my care for a time. Sometimes that’s a very scary prospect, especially today as I’m about to pack my seven year old up and put him on a big yellow bus to school for the entire day. I hope I’m doing my job well…
Jenn says:
I was at Purple Door with youth from our church–it was my 4th time, but the first in a few years since I’ve had my son. I’ve seen many speakers try and get their message across in between the music, and wanted to let you know your presentation was very touching. It got our kids talking, and hopefully that conversation will continue at the next youth meeting.