Just a few weeks ago I was in Africa working with one of our partners in Zimbabwe. It gives me tremendous joy to serve God’s people who have the least in terms of worldly possessions. Because they are so rich in faith, I am the one who comes away refreshed and filled with joy.
In one of my meetings, I was talking to a local worker named Merit who serves to assist rural villagers in establishing their farms and increasing their crop yield. It is hard work. Because funding for the project had been running low, Merit had not received a paycheck from her employer for the past six weeks. Now Merit is married and has two children. She has bills to pay just like you and me. But I noticed that in spite of no pay, she was continuing her work as faithfully as ever and with joy.
When I spoke to her, I told her I was sorry that she had not been paid in the past six weeks but I was so impressed by her attitude and hard work. She said, “Don’t apologize to me. I don’t work for money. I work for God.” And you could tell by the look in her eyes that she meant it.
She was working for God and trusting him to take care of her needs. What a testimony of genuine trust. We all work for God…and He is faithful to take care of His people. I hope you can remember Merit’s testimony when times are tough for you. We all face uncertainty and setbacks; it is during those times that we should learn to be rich in faith. Larry Burkett used to say, “do you trust God or do you just say that you trust God?” I believe Merit trusts God and she blessed me by her example of actually doing it.
