I Had No Business

[Altonwoods]

If ever I were to write my life story, this would probably end up being the title.

What does "that" really mean?

That my life has been characterized by my feeling that I'm a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.

That as a square peg in a land full of round holes you will do a lot of searching to find a place where you fit in.

Which also means that chances are you'll become involved with a lot of stuff that you really...

"Had No Business"

being involved with.

I'm not saying it's been all bad or anything, or that I'm really any different than you are.

In fact, I'll bet you probably know exactly what I'm talking about.

A couple of weeks ago one of the transient cats that frequent my yard decided to have seven kittens and abandon them there.

My wife was the first to hear something crying, we found most of them inside of an old cabinet next to our house.

All efforts to reunite them with their presumably overwhelmed mother failed and so the task was taken up by my daughter, who passed it off to my wife...

Without getting into the details of my personal financial situation, let me just say that

"I had no Business"

spending the money I did on "cat formula replacement" or the eye dropper and tiny bottle that I bought at Wal-Mart.

I didn't even know there was such a thing, it's about $10.00 each, I bought two containers.

(I call this "one" Don King)

Now it's a week or so later, six have died from aspirational pneumonia which is caused by formula getting into their lungs and causing an infection, one
is left...

But he is SO cute!

What the head makes cloudy,the heart makes very clear...

Last November I decided to rent a building in a nearby city and try to establish what I called a "ministry center"

It was an idea based not only on what I believed to be an unmet need in the community, but also on what I perceived as being a need to "walk the
walk" in the Christian community.

For eight months I showed up five days a week during the scheduled hours. I promoted it, and I paid every bill associated with it's operation.

Including but not limited to...the rent,electric,phone,water,to the tune of about $500.00 a month, and during the entire time I think I might've talked to
a dozen people about their drug/alcohol problems.

It's sort of a double entendre

I had no business spending that money, and I literally had no business going on!

"I Had No Business"

When people use that phrase to describe someone else what are they really saying?

At least in part I think it means that there's no profit in what you're doing.

maybe it means you were involved in something that was better left alone or that wasn't your affair.

And in these times we're in right now, minding your own business is a pretty easy sell when it comes to doing something towards meeting the needs of
our fellow man.

(or beast)

Do you think that "minding your own business" is part of being a Christian?

In the story of the good Samaritan that Jesus told to His disciples, I've always thought it was interesting that the first two people who came across the
man in great distress were representatives of the church...

If we fear becoming involved, whether it's financially, personally, or BOTH! And we rationalize that fear because of our circumstances or based on
the possibility of negative outcomes, it may well be said that we're
simply "minding our own business". And although the primary motivation I
mentioned is fear, we can further rationalize that our choice's are
right by referring to them as being

"self-love"

But that's in stark conflict with my understanding of what being a Christian is about.

It's definitely not loving God and others as yourself.

It's not trusting that God has all of our circumstances under His control.

Not being interested in expressing love can only mean you've yet to receive it.

Lately it seems to be a popular thing for Christian people to refer to themselves as

"followers of Christ"

Luke 2:49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business

Many church's and individual Christian's are seeking a move of the spirit, and yet they're standing still! One possible interpretation of Luke 2:49 is that the church is seeking Christ in the wrong places. That
if we're seriously interested in following Jesus or in being used by
the Holy Spirit we've got to come down off of our mountain and move
towards the front line's of this battle for souls that's going on,
that's where the Spirit of God is, and I believe that's where the Father
is looking to "do business" and that's where He needs His church to be!

So go and rescue some kittens, and then go and volunteer at a rescue mission if you want to see the spirit move!

Well, not exactly...but what I am saying is to let it be your constant compulsion to find a way to

"let your light so shine"

among men that your Father in heaven is glorified!

Never be convinced by the apparent lack of results from your efforts to serve the Lord that you

"had no business"

In attempting to do something.

Our adoption into Gods family makes it our family business to proclaim Christ!

I have no business other than the Fathers

In closing, this quote from C.H. Spurgeon

"If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their
knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, at least let it
be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there
unwarned and unprayed for."

Also this...

Evangelism is a process of bringing the gospel to people where they are, not where you would like them to be… When the gospel reaches a people where they are, their response to the gospel is the church in a
new place...--Vincent Donovan

[Altonwoods]

I'm including these comments which were left by a friend of mine on another blog because they help to explain my meaning here...

Stephen writes...

Interesting post, but I’m not entirely sure of your drift. The 8 months at $500 was spent trying to connect with the lost & needy.

As believers our business surely is trying to connect with those who don’t yet know The Way.

Are you saying you stopped because whilst the need was there maybe it wasn’t your call?

The kittens had a special attraction, but why did the Mum move on? Does “nature” sometimes know best and so this wasn’t your business, hence the majority have died?

I’m not sure what ,you’re concluding.

I am sure we can see our calling to “sort” every need, but actually need discernment about the task to avoid being active in the wrong areas and operating with a “works” only mentality. The power surely comes when faith & works are in tandem with The Spirit’s leading.

[Altonwoods]

I very much appreciate your questions and the opportunity to clarify what I’ve written.

I apologize for being vague!

“Are you saying you stopped because whilst the need was there maybe it wasn’t your call?”

No, I had to quit because I no longer had the job driving a school bus and I ran out of money…

(there’s a lot more to that story that I wont go into here)

“I’m not sure what, you’re concluding.”

What I’m trying to convey is that we live in a cynical world. A world full of people who will tell you “You had no business” in doing what you did. They can only see circumstances from a

“what’s in it for me”

in the here and now perspective.

By their actions they declare that this life is all there is. Those beliefs/actions run counter to much (dare I say all) of what living a Christian life is supposed to be about.

I used the title much in the same way a minister will “heckle himself” during a sermon. I speak to the objections or to the areas I feel people are most likely to misunderstand about why I’m doing (or attempting) what I’m doing.

This whole scenario is nothing new to me, my whole life I’ve been something of a giver in a world of takers and so I’m keen on the discouragement that people who attempt to do likewise often encounter.

My intent is to use this post to encourage anyone who is perhaps wrestling with their own inner “heckler” to not succumb to the mindset of the world that’s all about why things can’t work and to trust God always when He lays something on your heart!

Yes, By the worlds standard,

I Had No Business…

By The Fathers standard,

I Had No Choice!