Scattered

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out. Mark 3:13-13

Jesus didn’t just pull people with him to sing kumbaya and enjoy each other’s company. He wanted them to make a difference in the world. Yes, he wanted them with him. Yes, he wanted them to connect with each other. But there’s always more : “that he might send them out.” The past couple of days we’ve thought some about the church gathered; today we think about the church scattered.

So, so many times Jesus talks about being sent out to be in the world, pushing back the darkness and bringing life. You know this about your own life, too: you’re never truly fulfilled unless you’re giving yourself away.

The rub is how to give yourself away well, right? Some of us give too little and some of us give too much and some of us give the wrong stuff.

So do some reflecting today on giving.

• How have you given yourself away well? (think about your time, your money, your emotional energy, your relational capacity, your investment in learning about issues, your activity, etc. - whatever categories work for you)

• How have you given yourself away poorly? (think through various categories)

• Are there ways you might want to start giving yourself away? Or perhaps stop?