There probably isn?t a technical director anywhere in the country who has everything he or she wants. More budget, more gear, more time.
More people.
If only I could hire a staff person to help me out, things would be better. If only I had more volunteers, then I wouldn?t be so overwhelmed. If I had more people to serve alongside me, I wouldn?t have to be here all the time, and I?d probably enjoy what I?m doing a whole lot more.
Before long, we?ve turned all of our attention onto what we don?t have, and we develop a ?woe is me? mindset. We think God called us into the ministry just so we could live in a mud hut of isolation and desperation?the sound booth. Suffering for the Lord by being overworked and underpaid. Thinking (in our best Eeyore voice), ?I guess this is just my cross to bear.?
Granted, some of our reasons for not getting help (limited budgets, for example) may be very legitimate and beyond our control. But spending too much time focusing on what is lacking can lead to a dangerous poverty mentality: that I?m on an island tackling all of the technical needs (seemingly) by myself because I?m destined to do this alone. A poverty mentality is thinking no matter how hard I try, nobody will ever want to help, so I might as well start preparing myself for the slow slide into frustration and burnout.[quote]Spending too much time focusing on what is lacking can lead to a dangerous poverty mentality.[/quote]
Maybe by trying to do more with less I can somehow win more spiritual brownie points. The more I suffer and the harder I work have to count for something, right?
We desperately need more people. Perhaps God is waiting to answer our prayers until after we take the first step.
God?s most precious commodity is his children. So, why would He bless us with more people to steward and lead if we?re not capable of doing it well? After all, God established the principle of stewardship to determine success and advancement. If I can manage a little bit, I?ve proven I can manage more, and He will bless me with more. But if I can?t manage what I?ve already got…[quote]Why would God bless us with more people to steward and lead if we?re not capable of doing it well?[/quote]
So am I ready for more?
Maybe I?m actually the one limiting God?s ability to bring blessing, and my circumstances aren?t really the problem.
If I had more people, do I have an effective training process in place so that they can be properly educated and equipped to serve? Do I have a way to clearly define expectations of both performance and character so that they understand the standards of our team?
Am I presenting a healthy picture of structure and order to those who see my work area each weekend? Are things kept neat and clean, and do I act calmly and professionally?regardless of how frazzled I may be on the inside? Or do chaos and disorganization reign supreme?
Do I try to regularly interact with others, or am I always working head down? Do I attempt to build relationships with those on other teams, or am I constantly complaining about how other people don?t do things the way I think they should?
Do I possess a spirit of honor and speak positively about the church leadership, even when I don?t agree with their decisions? Or am I too quick to vent my frustrations about their behavior to anyone who will listen?
When I possess a spirit of honor, the Lord will honor me. When I show that I can effectively manage and steward the resources I already have, regardless of how meager, the Lord knows He can trust me to handle more.[quote]If I show that I can take care of what I already have, God will ensure that I always have exactly what I need.[/quote]
Ultimately, the difference between poverty and prosperity is really a mindset. It?s making a conscious decision that what I have right now is enough. Getting more of something isn?t always the answer. But if I show that I can take care of what I already have, God will ensure that I always have exactly what I need.
