20th January, 2008

CHRISSI ELLANKOON

“A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

- Proverbs 11:25 (New International Version)

'Don’t do something because you expect something in return!' Have you ever heard that phrase? I know so many times when I take on that extra task or go out of my way for someone, that phrase replays in my head. We are all taught from a very young age to do whatever we do from the goodness of our heart and are discouraged for seeking something in return.

This spirit of doing something for no return is evident in any volunteer. They know that there is no monetary reward behind what they do. Most of the time volunteers will tell you that they do what they do because they care and because in some way it gives them a sense of satisfaction.

I have spent the majority of my adult life involved in some sort of volunteer work, most of it has been centered around church and charities. I will tell you that I do voluntary work because I believe in the causes that I work for and I derive a lot of satisfaction in what I do.

One of the most common responses to the amount of voluntary work that I do is, “What about you, where do you get time for yourself, who looks after you?” I usually answer this question by stating the obvious and I also cite a long list of friends and family who continually bless me. The answer is usually enough to keep everyone satisfied. There are however times that I feel worn out and discouraged. I get to a point where I feel overlooked and overtired. At these times I do ask my self, why do I do it?

On one of these occasions I asked God, 'Why do I keep going and who is really looking after me?' Sitting in a service one day, I heard a visiting preacher quote the following verse, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” This verse was like gold to me, it was the missing key. In God’s house there is no lack. Nothing we do is at the expense of our selves, Jesus is always waiting there to refresh us and refill us. When I looked back on my life, I saw this Biblical truth in functioning in my life. Every time I gave of my time and my resources, they were all replaced. Anytime I extended my self because I was comforting or looking after others, God would send someone to do the same for me.

While we don’t do things expecting anything in return, I think that we do need to do things in the confidence that God will refresh us. Whenever we spend our time doing God’s work and meeting the needs of others, we need to trust that God Himself is looking after our own needs.

This is a source of great comfort, especially when you hit one of those down days and begin to question everything you do. Know that God is looking after you, He is waiting to comfort and refresh you. God in His goodness is waiting to meet your needs as you meet the needs of others.

Got a verse or a short passage you'd like us to look at? Just send an email to editor@sightmagazine.com.au.