Working at something you are not good at

This last few weeks have been mad in our household.  Things haven't been too crazy for me, but they have been mad for Tim.

He's been very busy with study, and he's been doing I suspect about 1.5 days worth of work on the church plant on top of that.

Of course, I would love him to not be as busy, and for us to spend our usual amount of time together, but the truth is, I am also incredibly proud of him.

Tim is not an administrator.  He is not a money man.  And he is not an IT person.  But in the last month he has worked his butt off to work out how to do all these things, so that the church plant can get off the ground.

He hasn't enjoyed it.  He has been dreaming longingly of the time when he can leave that behind and put his time into ministry planning.

It's funny because Tim's one of those people who lots of things come easy to him.  He is confident up the front, he is someone who loves preaching and teaching, and people naturally warm to him without him having to put in too much effort to win their affections.  Ministry is never easy, but it's always come more naturally to him than to many of the rest of us.

Making websites, setting up bank-accounts, and understanding tax laws, does not come easy to him.

But it's been wonderful to see him working hard for God, because something is important, not because it's easy.

It's a challenge for me, because I am someone who hates being bad at anything.  So much of the time I run to things I'm good at, congratulating myself on my abilities (which are God's gift anyway) and avoiding things that might make me look or feel bad because I am not as competent as others.

Tim's efforts these last few weeks have been a good reminder to do what is best for the kingdom, and not just what is easy.
love B