In my ministry for Jesus Christ I must expect to be pulled toward two extremes, the extremes of overprotectiveness and overgenerosity. The first is the fortress complex in which I wrap myself up in isolation and forbid anyone to come near. The second carries Paul’s all things to all men to such an extreme that I become nothing to everybody.
Job claimed that he had not eaten [his] morsel alone (Job 31:17), which means he had not refused to open his life and possessions to others. The fortress person is motivated by either fear or selfishness, and Job was possessed by neither of these. Neither should I, as I face a restless world of unsatisfied people. God does not have a fortress personality; neither does Jesus Christ. Where His Spirit rules freely in a human heart, there will be no icy containment, no frigid refusal to open the door to lame feet.
On the other hand, I must not be so open, so free, and so unprincipled that I become a spiritual smorgasbord. If I am blown with every wind of doctrine and idea, it will not be long before I will not have any doctrine, and this will, in effect, end my ministry.
To be a fortress person means I lose my ministry; to be a smorgasbord person means I lose my identity. I cannot afford to lose either!
What is the answer? How do I avoid either pitiful extreme? I believe it is following the example of Jesus Christ, who was absolutely open toward ministering to people in need, but absolutely closed toward doing anything other than the will of His Father. Once I set my heart on doing only His will, I will not have to worry about consequences. Augustine said it sublimely: In His will is our peace.
Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Daily with the King 