Using Shotguns to Kill Flies

Are you guilty of trying to kill a housefly with a shotgun? I know that I have been in the past. I hope I'm over it now. I think that we all do this at one point or another. The problem is that even though you might kill the fly, the shotgun is not the most efficient or effective way to get the job done. We don't always stop to think about that. We just see a job that needs to be done, and we step up to do it. Just maybe we should wait a minute and see if there is someone with a flyswatter on there way to take care of the problem.

I see this happen in the church. A lot. We see a job that needs to be done. We might even realize that it is not really our area of giftedness, but we step forward and take on the task anyway. After all, we reason, we can DO the job. We just might not be the best equipped for this particular one. Maybe we would be better served to take a step back, consider who in the church is best suited to the job, and encourage them to step forward. Everyone has their own talents that they need to use. If we are busy killing all the flies with our shotguns, what are they going to do with their flyswatters. And what happens when we need to use the shotguns, but are out of ammo because we wasted it on the flies.

God doesn't just call on us to serve. He calls on us to serve in particular areas. Not everyone is an excellent teacher, or hostess, or comforter, or dishwasher. We weren't all given the same gifts and abilities. That doesn't mean that goal oriented people like myself shouldn't be working to be more loving and patient with others. It does mean that we excel in administration and management. That is where our main service should be. As individuals and as a church body we need to make sure that we are using flyswatters to kill the flies and using our shotguns more appropriately.