by: Denise Long
I recall sitting at the lunch table with my three young sons one day. They were talking about growing up to be men. My four-year-old son looked at me with all seriousness and desire to please me and asked, “Mommy, what do you want me to be when I grow up?” As a smile ran across my face, I knew just what my answer would be. You see, I had been praying about that since before his birth. I said, “A GREAT MAN OF GOD.”
With eyes wide as saucers, and a look of amazement and surprise he replied, “You mean I can be a great man of God?”.
“Oh yes, you can be whatever you want to be, but, mommy, daddy and God want you to be a servant for Him.”
“Ok mommy, I will do what God wants and I’ll do it great!”
His desire to please God in a great way is still evident to this day. Titus and I never even talked about that conversation again until his high school graduation when he reminded me that he planned to serve God in a great way all of his life.
As you read this little story, think about it. I did not call him to preach, to the ministry or tell him how to serve God, only that it was great to serve God. Of course, we all know God does not need me or you as a mom to give our permission to Him before He calls our sons into His service. However, young children want to please mom more than anything. Some parents pick out a sport to push their children towards, or even an Ivy League college for them to attend. Some parents shove their sons into a prestigious career. I was not, and have not done that. I let him know that serving God is a great thing. Just saying something does not do it. You know as well as I do, if I had said, “God wants you to be a servant for Him,” but was never involved in serving God myself things would be different today.
We all know that a conversation with our husband’s like this will never work. The Bible tells us as wives to win our husband over with our conversation in 1 Peter 3:1. Yes, this is primarily talking about salvation, but I believe it can also be applied to service. I believe the conversation that the Bible is speaking of is our actions. Are you active in the church? Are you willing to be a sacrifice for the cause of Christ? Romans 12:1-2 beseeches us to be a living sacrifice. This may be a little hard for some of us to digest, so take it slow. Ask yourself, how willing am I to serve God, and does my husband know?
Are you willing to give up that new furniture you have been dreaming of because the church bus needs new tires? OUCH!!! Or, maybe the church needs a van to transport people to and from church. Are you willing to suggest to your husband to donate the money you’ve been setting aside for a couple years for that new flooring in your home in exchange for a new church van? ARE YOU STILL WITH ME? What would that be telling your husband about your seriousness to serve God? You know as well as I do that our husband wants to make us happy. Sadly, men are all too often willing to ignore God’s call on their lives. WHY? WHY?…‘To take care of us.’ We remind him of that vow they took at the marriage alter, “You promised to provide for me.”
DON’T BE SO SELFISH. People are going to Hell while we have a pair of shoes and matching purse for each outfit! HERE IS ANOTHER ONE. Just how much do you spend on manicures and pedicures, $100 per month, more? What would it tell your husband if you started painting you own nails and giving that money to missionaries? I’m not suggesting for us ladies to be unkept. I’m admonishing us to be living sacrifices. In doing so, our husbands will get the message loud and clear that we are serious about the service of God.
Are you willing to use your Saturdays to serve in nursing homes, visit shut-ins, or work a bus route with your family? WOW! Who gave you those Saturdays? Do we give a tithe of our time? God gave us 168 hours a week. How many hours do you tithe? 10%? Less? I’m not even suggesting that you use all day.
GET READY FOR THIS ONE! Here is an idea that may be life changing. Are you willing to give up that relaxing vacation you’ve been planning in exchange for a hot, sweaty, uncomfortable mission trip? Don’t just send hubby, you go too. I did. On it God confirmed in mine and my husband’s hearts that He wants us to serve Him full-time on the mission field. You may not have the same results, but I’M GIVING FAIR WARNING.
You may be thinking that you’ve not ever heard this from the pulpit; true. YOU’RE RIGHT AND WE KNOW WHY TOO. Preachers would never be successful saying this to us women. Just think what we would say or think about him. What would that do to the potluck fellowship he has planned? It would probably turn into a “you’re out-of-luck, we ain’t doing nothing, fasting fellowship” using the word ‘fellowship’ loosely of course. This is something us ladies of God must say to one another. The Bible tells us to teach the younger women. I don’t think that it would hurt to remind all ladies of this.
I challenge you be a living sacrifice. Go ahead, God wins and we feel used and needed. Perhaps our men will be more willing to serve God once they know how much we are.
Denise Long
Missionary Wife to India