All to Him I Owe

The term gun shy was originally used to describe a bird dog that cowered at the sound of a gun. Over time, it began being applied to people who are wary, distrustful, and frightened, as a result of a previous experience.

I am a gun-shy pastor. On a regular basis, I have to fight my wariness, distrust, and fear of people. Some people whom I have loved and served and in whom I have invested have fired back at me with hurtful words and actions. Their responses have left me with a reluctance to love others again. But despite what others have said or done, God has not given me an allowance to stop loving people. I’m guessing that some of you can identify with what I’m talking about. You, too, have experienced both the risk and reward of lovingly investing in others. So, how do we overcome a gun-shy complex and love the people God has given us? Let me suggest three things that have been helping me.

1.    God’s hesed love for me

In his helpful book, the Loving Life, Paul Miller defines God’s hesed love as “love without an exit strategy.” Have you ever thought about the fact that God loves us with no anticipation of ever ceasing to love us? Though I may grieve him with my actions, words, and thoughts, He has a relentless love that never takes an exit, while He waits for me to get my act together again. Our hurtfulness towards God is far greater than the hurt others have caused us. God’s faithful love towards us not only sets a standard for us but also inspires us to love as He loves.

2.    Calvary and Christ’s death for me

Calvary shows us the utter selflessness of Christ’s death for us. He endured pain, embarrassment, and harassment to enable God to do us good. He did not just do one kind thing and wait for our response; He endured the cross and all of the difficulty surrounding it, regardless of our response. His disciples fled, betrayed Him, and cowered; but Christ endured. After His resurrection, He did not avoid those who had hurt him but instead pursued them, desiring fellowship with them. I would have had a hard time standing on the beach seeking fellowship with Peter. But Christ loved Peter and sought him out after that fruitless night of fishing. God’s enduring love towards us not only inspires us but also enables us to love others in the same way. Because of Calvary and the redeeming work of Christ in us, love for others is possible. The desire and ability to do the right thing is possible, because of God’s work in us (Philippians 2:13).

3.    Hebrews 6:10, my “ministry life preserver”

This is the verse I turn to when I am struggling. I love it because it directs my thoughts toward a proper view of the ministry. For instance, isn’t it interesting that God calls the ministry a “work and labor of love?” God knows the difficulty we face loving others and even describes it as sweaty, laborious work. Sometimes it is just comforting to know that God knows this is hard work. That hard work, though, is never in vain! God also says in Hebrews 6:10 that He is not unrighteous to forget that work and labor of love. Regardless of how people respond to my love and ministry to them, God never forgets.

We have all been called into ministries that involve serving and loving people. Nearly all of us can probably recount the gunshots of hurt that we have received in ministry. Are you gun shy? Have you found yourself creating a distance between you and others, because of fear that you will get hurt again? That distance between you and others needs to be closed. Overcome wariness of people with the Word of God, and go love those whom God has called you to.