Early in my time as a professor, I quickly learned that some colleagues dedicated a lot of time to service, and others dedicated, well, not so much. One of my colleagues simplified it this way: “If you want something done, find someone who is busy.”
I became one of those busy people, serving on various university committees, as a Scout leader, as a member of our parish council, and eventually as the church treasurer. So, when I was offered a Fulbright Scholar Award to teach and do research in Zambia for a year, I was doubly happy: I could do some interesting academic things in Africa, and I could take a break from my other duties.
Asked to Give a Sermon
I was teaching at Zambia’s youngest public university, and we attended a church in a village across from the university. Services were half in Bemba and half in English, the latter mainly to accommodate students from the university, and the pastor was a retired colonel in the Zambian army.
After about a month, the pastor asked me to teach a Sunday School lesson for the teenagers, which I gladly did, although I was surprised that everyone at the church showed up, not just the teenagers. He asked me to teach another lesson, and I did, and then he asked me to give a sermon.
He Saw Through My Excuses
Well, this was going a bit far. I had not come all the way to Africa to add to my never-ending “extra” work, and I was not about to prepare sermons every week! The last time that I had preached a sermon was for a Youth Sunday when I was a teenager, and that 20-minute sermon lasted a grand total of … three minutes. Preaching was not my calling.
I expressed this to the pastor in a much more diplomatic form, but he saw right through my excuses. There’s nothing more humiliating than to be called out on something you know is true.
Reflect on God’s Blessings
He reminded me that many people in the congregation couldn’t read; many didn’t own Bibles; almost none had any university education. He and I had been Christians for decades, were university graduates, and had taken classes on the Bible. And he expected me to reflect on God’s blessings and to put that training to use, not every Sunday, but at least occasionally.
And I did.
And it was a blessing, for, just like the other teaching that I do, I learned a lot by having to teach through sermons.
And, of course, we always feel at peace when we yield to God’s will.
Opportunities All Around Us
One can easily think of Esther or the parable of the talents here, utilizing one’s skills, gifts, preparation, or placement when God presents the opportunity. There are opportunities all around us with our colleagues and students to use the gifts that God has given us to serve, encourage, disciple, and/or share the gospel with them.
Take it from me, and save yourself a trip to Zambia.
