In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Acts 9:36-42
Yesterday I had to go to Oklahoma City. For a small-town girl, it's always exciting to be in "The City". Lots of places to go that we don't have around here. As I shopped around and looked.....saw the many, many stores and different places, I got to thinking about all of the things we women can do or may do away from home...in service-type places. This is for women (or men on some) whether in a big city or not, because we can drive to do them.
Besides shopping for clothes, food, or home decor, we can get our hair cut, fixed, and colored; get our nails done; work out at a gym; drink coffee with friends; go to shows, play games, attend sporting events and concerts. Of course there is work - either at home or away from home....family activities, children's extra-curricular activities, and the work of the church.
Although none of those things is bad, in and of itself, if we're not really careful, we can allow our selves to get so busy with things for "self" and our own pleasure that we don't have time to do anything else. We will not have time to do things for others, being a servant of the Lord, if we get too involved and focused on self.
As I thought about this "problem", I thought about Dorcas from the passage above. She didn't, nor did anyone in Bible times, take the time for "self" that we are capable of doing now. Imagine how different it would be if we read God's Word and all it was about was how they spoiled themselves or entertained themselves with worldly affairs. Now some did do worldly things and got into trouble because of it, just like we do, but we certainly don't see that from Dorcas, do we?
Dorcas was always doing good and helping the poor. That's what we know about her. And that's enough to know about her, isn't it?
What will be said about you? What will you be known for? How do you want to be known? Do you want to be known as a selfish, self-serving/pleasing person or do you want to be known as someone who was always doing good? It's a pretty easy answer for most of us. Most of us want to be known for doing good. If we do, we'll have to get rid of self! So, let's get to work, okay?
