Draw me after you and let us run together! (Song of Songs 1:4)

Let me start with the idea that our Maiden’s heart cry has 2 parts. I long to be with you in intimacy (“Draw me”) and we will work together in ministry (“let us run.”)

But there are times when we mess this up in the church.

Have you ever seen this happen?

A young man or woman is wonderfully touched by the awesome love of the Savior and begins to come to church. They are so completely engrossed with worship and would do anything for the object of their love.

They so want to please the Lord that they “report for duty.” They volunteer for everything. They are there every time the church opens its doors.

We put them to work gladly, and work they do, but soon the zeal begins to fade.

But WHY?

I believe we have shut down a critical area of the Lord’s work in a life. We do this all too often.

Don’t get me wrong here. I’ve been in church leadership, and I know all too well that getting people involved can be a challenge, and getting folks to chip in and join the workforce is not easy.

By the same token, we are going to see in graphic detail how in the life of the Shulamite, in these next couple chapters, this strategy did not work out too well.

Here’s the thing.

In God’s economy Intimacy begets Productivity, but there is a gestation period. We understand this in life!

A fruitful life is intended to flow out of intimacy.

Infatuation
Passion
Intimacy
Gestation
Birth
Productivity

And this is the pattern for a healthy, burnout proof, long life of ministry. We must not short circuit the romance phase.

When we push people into ministry too soon, we can inhibit their ability to continue to return to intimacy, and they will face burnout. Intimacy is where we are refreshed, and when we elevate ministry over life worship, we can cripple the ability of our ministers to be refreshed and refueled.

We must also be careful not to judge others by the season we are in. We may be in a season of worship, and we can look at the worker-bees and think – they just don’t get it, while at the same time the worker-bees are thinking that the worshipers are no earthly good.

Both Wong–God’s work in us takes time, and seasons are the way He works.

I hope this helps

See you next week

Ben