UNDERSTANDING MISSIONS (12)

 Understanding Missions(12)

The Spiritual & Physical Well-being of a Missionary

"We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Any spiritual individual with a vision, burden, and undeniable call and assignment over their life needs an earthly vessel/clay jar to carry and dispense that burden. No matter how great and admirable our visions and burdens may be, we also need a strong and sustainable body (earthly vessels/clay jars) to carry them. A sickly and weak body will struggle to carry a strong desire to reach the world for Christ.

A missionary is not expected to live extravagantly and flamboyantly. However, they must maintain a minimal diet to sustain their bodily health so they can endure in the work.

One of our problems as missionaries is that we often invest all of our income into supposed kingdom work while neglecting our personal and bodily upkeep, as well as that of our family.

While it is wrong to use kingdom funds for personal upkeep, it is equally wise to note that the kingdom cannot exist without human beings. And no person can find relevance in the kingdom if they have frail and fragile health.

The place we live, the clothes we wear, and the food we eat should matter to us as missionaries who desire to endure on this journey.

Anyone who disregards their health and bodily well-being will eventually find themselves tired and weak while the destination is still a million miles away.

John the beloved, one of the earliest great missionaries, wrote to young missionaries, "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit" (3 John 1:2).

This is profound advice. No matter how strong your spirit is for the task, if your body is weak, you will become a burden to those who strive to maintain the equilibrium of spiritual and bodily health.

"I am an Egyptian—the slave of an Amalekite," he replied. "My master abandoned me three days ago because I was sick. We were on our way back from raiding the Kerethites in the Negev, the territory of Judah, and the land of Caleb, and we had just burned Ziklag" (1 Samuel 30:13-14).

This was the story of an abandoned soldier who was rescued by David and his men. He came to the battlefield strong and healthy, but he became sick and was abandoned. Some may view this as wickedness, but in reality, no rational person would engage the services of a sick individual. A sick and wounded soldier poses a threat to the entire team if he is not given proper attention.

What did this sick and abandoned soldier need to get back on his feet? "They gave him some bread to eat and water to drink. They also gave him part of a fig cake and two clusters of raisins, for he hadn't had anything to eat or drink for three days and nights. Before long his strength returned" (1 Samuel 30:11-12).

After receiving bread, water, fig cake, and clusters of raisins, his strength returned, and he became active again. They didn't need to pray and fast for many days for him. No prayer mountain or prophetic deliverance. He simply received the right meal and got up.

Dear reader, do not underestimate the importance of meals, diet, and your bodily health. Your visions and burdens require your body to carry them out.

Stay strong and may you remain blessed.

Peter Abdul-Razaq, OLAYINKA

Living Grace Christian Missions, Ilara

WhatsApp: (+229)94139130

Mobile Numbers: +2348066540987, +2347084504532

Email: peterrazaq@yahoo.com

Twitter & Instagram: @peterrazaq

Linkedin: Revd. Peter OLAYINKA