This is my last week as a member of the student body of Purdue University, and America. I have been through a lot in my 4... (or make that 5) years of college. Lately I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my life here in West Lafayette and how it could have been different or it could have changed. It is a sobering thought that in 3 week's time I will really really be out on my own in the real world. So basically each day this week, I will try to leave you all with some story or something I have learned that you can use (if you like) in your own life. Maybe I have suffered some so you can suffer less by learning from my mistakes...
You Can't Reach Everyone, So Don't Even Try...
This one is a tough pill to swallow. Especially for a guy like me that identifies with lonely people, or people that are trying to reach out for friends. I just want to help everyone. I don't want to see anyone suffering. It really pains me to see my friends or the people around me struggle with pain from their past or their present situation. Maybe I am just a natural helper or whatever, but I can't help but want to reach out and try to help everyone.
Even Jesus didn't try to reach out to everyone. He wasn't traveling around and meeting with person after person every day of His 3 year ministry career. He didn't pour himself into everyone He met. He was able to meet surface needs of the people He ran into, like healings or casting of demons. But as far as personal relationships, he had a group of twelve, and even closer a group of three.
I have shed a lot of tears because of this. I can't help everyone. I don't even have close to enough capacity to help everyone. I think God has told me just to focus on a particular group and I am a part of, a particular demographic I have something in common with, especially during this year of college. In large part, this strategy has been successful. I encourage you to target specific people groups or even specific people when reaching out on behalf of God. Maybe God has put you into a certain situation just for that purpose.
Investment in a smaller group can have a greater impact than you think. The return on the investment just takes a little bit longer to realize. Focusing on a smaller group allows you to invest even more into each member, to go even deeper. You can also see your results easier. You can see if what you are doing is working, or if anything needs correction.
We are created to live in community with each other, but for our benefit and the benefit of others, the communities should remain smaller. If the groups get too big, don't be afraid to split them into smaller groups, with reunions every once in a while.
Also something else to consider is to keep the group opened to outsiders as much as possible. Avoid being closed off to others, unless there is a logistical reason to do so.
In conclusion groups > individuals and small groups > large groups.
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