As humans, I think it comes natural for us to always want what we don’t have. It’s like if we just had a little more, THEN we would be happy. Like what we already have isn’t enough…
Just give me this ONE MORE wish God and I’ll be content or do that ONE MORE thing for me God and I’ll be fulfilled…
What God has taught me during my brief stint teaching at Manor Hill is that instead of focusing on the things I don’t have, I should be intentional about pouring myself out into the things I do.
God has blessed me with an incredible opportunity to be a mentor and role model to approximately 500 young people, and in doing so, has given me the responsibility to pour myself into that work everyday–without taking shortcuts.
It would be easy for me to welcome my students into my class with a brief description of what we’re doing and then “roll a ball out” and let them have at it with no intent of teaching them anything or giving them the time and attention they deserve from me.
But God calls me to do more…
Thus, I have posted the below message above my work computer to help remind me to pour myself out into these kids every second of every day.
God has also challenged me to carry this new motto into my life outside of work as well. For He has blessed me with so many great things I often take for granted that to NOT pour myself out into them would be to not fully appreciate and take advantage of what has been given to me.
So what does “pouring myself out” mean exactly?
It means…
to hold nothing back.
to do more than what is expected.
to serve with a humble heart.
to endure the tough days and forgive without conditions.
to be the first to say I’m sorry.
to put up with much and be slow to anger.
to go the extra mile–even when I feel I deserve a break.
to be joyful–even when I’m not in a joyful mood.
to be grateful–even when I feel like I deserve more.
Pouring myself out means to be more like Jesus, who poured all of Himself out for us when He went to the cross…
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”–Philippians 2: 5-8
If Jesus could humbly come down from Heaven and pour Himself out for me in such a sacrificial way, then it would be hypocritical and wrong for me not to do likewise for those whom I interact with.
So instead of focusing on what we don’t have, let’s pour out into the things we do…
Instead of focusing on our hopes for a better job, let’s pour out into the job we have now.
Instead of focusing on our hopes for a better family, let’s pour out into the family we have now.
Instead of focusing on our hopes for better relationships, let’s pour out into the relationships we have now.
And instead of focusing on our hopes for the perfect spouse or partner, let’s pour out into the One who truly satisfies. For NOTHING and NO ONE compares to Him…
You can’t take anything from this life with you when you die. So why hold anything back? Lets pour ourselves out into what we’ve been given each and every day…
-BH
Brady Hammond 