There was a time that I lived in Colorado Springs, and I worked with my church’s Cadet Ministry. There were some cadets that didn’t feel spiritually fulfilled with the chapel services on base. So, I would pick them up on Sunday mornings and take them to my church. At this time freshmen and sophomores weren’t allowed cars, and freshmen couldn’t have cell phones.
I remember one time getting up early, taking thirty minutes to drive to pick them up, and waiting, and waiting. I couldn’t call them because they didn’t have cell phones. I waited for about twenty minutes and then gave up. I was furious. Afterall, they could have called on the squadron’s payphone or emailed me the night before. I was so upset that they would do this to me.
Then I recalled the parable of the servant doing everything his master told him to do, and afterwards he would say, “I’m an unprofitable servant for I’ve done what is required of me.” That’s when I realized I had it all wrong. It shouldn’t “how could they do this to me,” but “how could they do this to God and to themselves.” They were failing to receive God’s blessing of Christian fellowship and learning more about him. I realized I was suffering from the greatest of sins, pride. They hurt my pride by not showing up and having me waste “my time” by not telling me they wouldn’t be there when I drove out to pick them up.
From then on, I wasn’t so upset about them not showing. I recognized I was just doing what is expected of me, and I would keep encouraging them and praying for them. I accepted them for what they were, eighteen and nineteen year-olds who had no clue and were under a great deal of stress. I recall all of them and think of them with a great deal of love and continue to pray for them.
I also remember that now, as then, I’m an unprofitable servant who at my best is just doing what is required, and nothing more.