LET SOMEBODY ELSE BRING THE POT. 

Last week, I found myself in a most unusual place.

For reasons beyond my control, I had nothing prepared for The Place of Praise.

Now, if you know anything about me, you will know that I take this weekly assignment very seriously. It is always a delight, a privilege and an honour to share God’s Word.

But on this particular Tuesday, my pot was empty.

Thankfully, The Place of Praise is not a one-man kitchen! Hallelujah!!!

I reached out to one of our partners, The Revolutionary Righter, and before long, something beautiful happened.

She brought the pot.

And God’s children were fed. Praise God!!!

That experience reminded me of something we sometimes forget, particularly those of us who are accustomed to serving, giving, organising, helping, encouraging and generally making sure that everything gets done properly.

We must know that we are not the Source.

God is the Source, and we are simply vessels.

We must stay away from the mindset of:

“If I don’t do it, who will?”

OR

“If I’m not there, how will they manage?”

Though that may sound like commitment, it may very easily become pride.

The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful picture of the Body of Christ:

“For the body is not one member, but many.” 1 Corinthians 12:14 KJV

We are all one body, made up of many members who have different gifts and different functions. I am certain that God never intended for one person to do everything.

Sometimes He supplies through our hands. At other times, He supplies through the hands of another. And there is humility required for both.

It takes humility to serve without needing recognition, and it also takes humility to sit down and be served.

Some of us are very good at giving, yet we find it difficult to receive.

We are always there to organise, encourage, pray with and for others and we provide support. The truth is after doing it for long enough, we can become so accustomed to carrying the pot that we forget that occasionally we are allowed to put it down.

There is a beautiful moment in the story of Elijah that reminds me of this.

Elijah had just experienced an extraordinary victory on Mount Carmel. He had stood boldly for God against the prophets of Baal.

Yet shortly afterwards, we find this same mighty prophet exhausted and discouraged, sitting underneath a juniper tree and asking God to take his life.

And what did God do?

God allowed him to sleep.

“And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.”  1 Kings 19:5 KJV

There was already food waiting for him.

Elijah did not prepare it.

He did not organise it.

He did not even ask for it.

Somebody else brought the pot.

Sometimes we are so busy being available to everybody else that we forget God has also placed people around us through whom He can minister to us, especially when we are in the midst of a storm.

Dear friend, perhaps it is time for you to chill.

Even if it is for a little while.

Let somebody encourage you.

Let somebody pray for you.

Let somebody help you.

Let somebody use their gift.

Let somebody carry something for a while.

Let somebody else bring the pot.

Because if we are always carrying the pot, our hands may never be free to receive a plate. There is enough room at God’s table for all of us.

Maybe you have been carrying a lot lately. Perhaps you are the dependable one. The person everybody expects to show up. The one who always seems to have something to give.

What a privilege that is.

Never lose the joy of being able to say:

“I GET TO bring the pot.”

But remember that you are also a vessel, not the Source.

God is the Source.

Today He may pour through you.

Tomorrow He may pour through another.

So bring your pot gladly when it is yours to bring. Please serve generously, give freely and pour out joyfully.  But when another vessel arrives carrying what God has placed in their hands, make room at the table.

Sit down.

Hold out your plate.

And receive with thanksgiving.

It is a privilege to bring the pot.

But sometimes…

LET SOMEBODY ELSE BRING THE POT.

OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©