I’m intrigued by that big, red “Easy” button in the advertisements of a chain of office supply stores. You just hit the button and your supplies arrive. Right. Sure they do.
I want one of those at the church. We hit the “Easy” button and a chute out of heaven drops volunteers into our ministries. Easy!
I saw the button for sale at the store. Don’t ask me what it does. (I’m intrigued, not rich — or stupid.) It’s not connected to anything, as far as I can tell. If it had some sort of transmitter or phone or wifi, I’m sure that it would cost a bundle.
Is that big, red “Easy” button a metaphor for your volunteer recruiting — great to look at but not connected to the Provider?
Jesus told us to ask “the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). When God has work to be done, He is ready to send the help.
I considered the idea of having an Easy button connected to a sign that flashed, “Pray! Pray! Pray!” In some ways, it’s a great mental picture, but I’m not ready to start some Push-It-Provide-It theology of prayer. I want my prayers filtered through John 14:14 (asking in Jesus’ name, according to His will).
There is still a take-away here, though: Connecting to the Provider. An Easy button only works in the commercials. God wants to provide the people for His projects, but He wants us to ask. Prayer is primary, not an afterthought.
[ In our next post, Kristi writes about a real life example of asking in prayer and receiving an answer — just in time. ]