My friend and I have a tradition known as the “The Black Friday Hunt”. Neither of us care for shopping, large crowds or cities. So on this day of national mayhem, we intentionally find the deepest, darkest part of the woods and do our dead-level best to avoid other people. We also take the time to deer hunt. We will scout an area and hang our stands where we believe success will find us.
This past year, my friend had done all the heavy lifting. He picked the perfect spot and hung the stand. A few days before, he and I walked in the area and buck sign was everywhere. Then, over coffee, we checked the trail cameras he had set up in the area.
It was a new stand. He had done his homework. Still, there I sat, wondering if it would be a good spot. An hour later, I was admiring a decent young buck that I had just taken.
When he heard the shot, my hunting partner got down from his stand to help me track and drag my trophy. When, he saw the animal, he told me he had that same deer at 20 yards for most of the morning but decided to pass on him.
Even though he still gives me a hard time about dusting one of his “babies”, I have come to realize that without my friend, that nice 8 point would not be on a plaque gracing my office wall. I literally did nothing but pull the trigger. He hung up the stand where he knew the deer would be crossing. He set up and checked the camera. It all actuality, I killed the buck but he hunted it.
I’ve come to realize that sometimes you just have to set someone else up to succeed in order to accomplish a common goal. In our case, it was fresh deer tenderloin, a rack to adorn our “Black Friday” trophy case and a story that has gotten plenty of use. My reward was a filled tag. His reward was having helped me to succeed (and to be able to hang that fact over my head).
Our society puts too much emphasis on having the spotlight firmly focused on ourselves. But God's ways are not like our ways. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 says What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. In the passage above, Paul and Apollos were working hand-in-hand for a common goal, to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Paul would preach and then Apollos would go talk to the people one-on-one and they would be saved.
My pastor and I have a similar relationship. While he is excellent behind the pulpit, he shines in behind-the-scenes ministerial work. His ministry is visiting people in hospitals, counseling one-on-one and small group bible study in his house. I, on the other hand, feel I am doing the most for God’s kingdom as a teacher. As weird as it sounds, I can thrive in front of hundreds of people and feel like a fish out of water in front of 5.
I like Paul’s attitude here. Basically, Paul says, "I don't care who gets to lead them to the Lord as long as they get saved!" Sometimes we're called to plant a seed. Sometimes we're called to water it. Other times, we get to harvest. But don't forget that we do exactly what God calls us to do--and nobody harvests unless God makes our efforts grow.
I’ve had to learn that The spotlight is not on us. We're in the shadows. The spotlight is right where it belongs--on our great and glorious God! It’s truly amazing what people can accomplish when we don’t care who gets the credit.
Like the Ben Dupree-Author page for book ordering information, speaking engagement bookings and future book release dates.
This past year, my friend had done all the heavy lifting. He picked the perfect spot and hung the stand. A few days before, he and I walked in the area and buck sign was everywhere. Then, over coffee, we checked the trail cameras he had set up in the area.
It was a new stand. He had done his homework. Still, there I sat, wondering if it would be a good spot. An hour later, I was admiring a decent young buck that I had just taken.
When he heard the shot, my hunting partner got down from his stand to help me track and drag my trophy. When, he saw the animal, he told me he had that same deer at 20 yards for most of the morning but decided to pass on him.
Even though he still gives me a hard time about dusting one of his “babies”, I have come to realize that without my friend, that nice 8 point would not be on a plaque gracing my office wall. I literally did nothing but pull the trigger. He hung up the stand where he knew the deer would be crossing. He set up and checked the camera. It all actuality, I killed the buck but he hunted it.
I’ve come to realize that sometimes you just have to set someone else up to succeed in order to accomplish a common goal. In our case, it was fresh deer tenderloin, a rack to adorn our “Black Friday” trophy case and a story that has gotten plenty of use. My reward was a filled tag. His reward was having helped me to succeed (and to be able to hang that fact over my head).
Our society puts too much emphasis on having the spotlight firmly focused on ourselves. But God's ways are not like our ways. 1 Corinthians 3:5-8 says What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. In the passage above, Paul and Apollos were working hand-in-hand for a common goal, to see people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Paul would preach and then Apollos would go talk to the people one-on-one and they would be saved.
My pastor and I have a similar relationship. While he is excellent behind the pulpit, he shines in behind-the-scenes ministerial work. His ministry is visiting people in hospitals, counseling one-on-one and small group bible study in his house. I, on the other hand, feel I am doing the most for God’s kingdom as a teacher. As weird as it sounds, I can thrive in front of hundreds of people and feel like a fish out of water in front of 5.
I like Paul’s attitude here. Basically, Paul says, "I don't care who gets to lead them to the Lord as long as they get saved!" Sometimes we're called to plant a seed. Sometimes we're called to water it. Other times, we get to harvest. But don't forget that we do exactly what God calls us to do--and nobody harvests unless God makes our efforts grow.
I’ve had to learn that The spotlight is not on us. We're in the shadows. The spotlight is right where it belongs--on our great and glorious God! It’s truly amazing what people can accomplish when we don’t care who gets the credit.
Like the Ben Dupree-Author page for book ordering information, speaking engagement bookings and future book release dates.