Live to Give by Austin Gutwein

Author:Austin Gutwein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2012-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

It means that the four-lane road you’re on may be going down to two lanes soon, or that the nice wide lanes in the flatlands are about to change to a precarious goat trail in the mountains. Those always remind me of a verse in Matthew 7, which says:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (vv. 13–14)

That verse is like a Road Narrows sign. It tells us that God rewards those who go on the narrow, muddy road. The road may be difficult, but it is worth it. Remember our conversation about the temptations and distractions of this world? Those temptations point us down a wide, paved, easy road, promising fulfillment in things like money, power, fame, success, popularity, and “stuff.” That road may seem sweet and easy, but it’s taking you nowhere fast—“to destruction.” If you’re trudging along, slipping and sliding all over the place, and you look over and see people whizzing by on the wide road, don’t get discouraged. Stick with the narrow road, however muddy it may be, because obeying God always pays off with “life”—and life “abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV)!

We have already mentioned this, but the common misconception is that serving God is easy. Many times it is not. Never let that discourage you from going down that road, but do realize it can be tough. Challenges can and probably will occur, and many of those will simply be from the uncertainty that you face. You may wonder, Will this really work? Does God really want me to use my gift? Am I going to get stuck out here in the middle of nowhere? God does want you to be on this road, and through Him you can do it. We will talk more about these doubts later, but for now, remember that God would not call you to the road if you could not make it. Remember Philippians 1:6: “The God who started this great work in you [will] keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears” (MSG).

God would not call you to the road if you could not make it.

ROAD CREW

Once, I was guarding another person during a soccer game on a wet field. I was a little uncertain, as he was faster than I was. As determined as I was not to fall, I ended up slipping in one of the mud pools along the soccer field. My teammates, though, were right there to cheer me on and encourage me to chase the kid down. Plus, mud kinda looks cool on a soccer uniform. You look really tough. Like Bear Grylls, Man vs. Wild status.

The road toward giving your lunch isn’t easy, but it sure can become a lot easier if you let those around you encourage you and push you a little.

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