Okay, it’s time to get real…let’s talk about pride for a minute. What is it about our human nature that drives us to think we are capable of doing things on our own? Let’s make it more personal…why is it that I struggle so much with simply accepting assistance when it is offered, let alone putting myself out there and asking for help when I truly need it? I read somewhere that pride grows out a mindset that overvalues oneself and undervalues others…and if I were really honest, I would have to confess that that tends to be an accurate description of me far more often than I want to admit.
The Bible drops some truth bombs on the topic of pride:
– “The LORD detests all the proud of heart…” (Proverbs 16:5a)
– “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
– “…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6b / Proverbs 3:34)
– “I (Wisdom) hate pride and arrogance…” (Proverbs 8:13b)
I think you get the picture…when it comes to living life in Christ, it is clear that pride seriously impedes our ability to walk out our faith. God calls us to surrender our whole lives to Him and walk in obedience, no matter what that looks like.
So how does this tie into my World Race preparation? Well, as the title alludes to, I have a tendency to try and do things myself…but as I get closer and closer to completing the transition from having a full-time job to being a full-time missionary with no job, I am reluctantly starting to come to grips with the reality that I will not be able to walk through this journey on my own.
One of my favorite analogies when it comes to ministry work is the image of chopsticks. Since I have been living in Korea for over a year now, I have become intimately familiar with how these wonderful utensils work. The bottom chopstick is held stationary in the hand, providing a base of support while the top chopstick moves back and forth, doing the actual “work” needed in order to accomplish the goal of bringing food to one’s mouth. This cannot be accomplished successfully without both chopsticks, and neither of them is more important than the other. For my fellow nerds out there, the amount of force exerted by one chopstick is equal to the amount exerted by the other (thanks for this one, Nate!). So how does that apply to ministry? Well, as you may have guessed, pastors and missionaries (and many others) act as the top chopsticks, sharing the good news, serving others, and doing the “work” of the ministry, day in and day out…but they cannot do it alone. Enter the bottom chopsticks. Without the desperately-needed prayer and financial support these wonderful people provide, the “workers” are toiling in vain, attempting to eat a meal with a single chopstick.
I had grown comfortable in the background, filling a limited role as a bottom chopstick…so naturally, God is now calling me out of my comfort zone and pulling me toward the role of a top chopstick. He then opened the doors needed for my World Race dream to become a reality. But it didn’t stop there—and this next part is really difficult for me to share—God then took it a step further and challenged me to trust Him to provide for me fully through the generosity of others and not contribute even one penny of my own money toward the trip costs. This is where I really started second-guessing myself (and ultimately, God). I feel so guilty asking others to support me financially when I have a good job and could cover a solid portion of the cost of this trip personally…but apparently God has other plans in mind for me and my finances. This all just doesn’t add up in my finite mind…it makes no sense to commit to a journey like this, and then take what feels like a step back to ask for friends and family to provide the necessary means for me to complete this mission…but then again, God doesn’t call us to understand Him, He simply calls us to obey Him. So now His question remains: “Will you surrender your own reasoning and trust Me with where I want to lead your life?”
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Even though my flesh doesn’t WANT to accept help…at the end of the day, the truth is, I actually NEED your help!!
I have to raise a total of $17,561 in order to fulfill the calling that God has placed on my life for this next season. Thanks to an amazingly generous group of people who have reached out to me to ask if they can support me on this journey, I have raised $5,700 so far! That means I have another $11,861 to go in order to be fully funded. Recently, I was smacked over the head with the conviction that my hesitation to ask people for support was actually depriving others of the joy they would get from being able to partner with my team and I to enable our ministry. That hit me hard, and helped give me the motivation needed to overcome my pride and FINALLY finish writing this blog! 
So, regardless of whether you can contribute $5 or $500, I would truly be honored to have your support!
To financially support me, you can click on either the “Donate!” button at the top of this page, or the “CLICK TO SUPPORT ME!” link on the left-hand side of this page. All donations are tax-deductible and non-refundable. If you want to receive an email notification when I post a new blog, you can subscribe by clicking the link underneath my name.
WILL YOU BE MY BOTTOM CHOPSTICK? 
