When The Ministered To Minister

A couple of weeks ago during our Wednesday Outreach Ministries, I was helping out with the food distribution when a young man came up to me and wanted to talk. He thanked me for the food and all that the church was doing in the community.

He then shared with me that he has AIDS. He has had it for over 7 years and he is needing help.

I listened, as I also scrambled in my mind where to direct the young man, who today's society may see as, a "leper," an outcast.

As I was trying to come up with an answer God came up with His answer.

I saw riding up to the backporch on her bicycle to get her bag of groceries a lady I have talked to in the past. She has AIDS. She knows the local resources and support groups in the community. I asked her if she would be willing to talk with the young man about the resources she knew of in our area.

She agreed and I left them alone to let her share hope and comfort with a fellow sufferer. After they were done, I went up to the lady and thanked her for helping the young man. She turned to me with teary eyes and thanked me for giving her a chance to minister instead of always being ministered to.

It was then that I realized how powerful it is in our lives, and the life of the church, when God brings His answers and the ministered to get to minister. God takes us through our sufferings and struggles so that one day, after we have been ministered to, we will be able to minister to others.

"He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." II Corinthians 1:4 NLT

How pleased our Heavenly Father must be when He witnesses the ministered to ministering to one another.

Who will God use you to minister to?

Till the next cup of java...