Giving the Best to the Least

Being humble and living in humility are rare finds in our self-centered world. To be humble is to have an honest perspective concerning self. It's understanding that you are not more important or more valuable or more loved by God than anyone else -that God has made each one of His creation uniquely special and filled with intrinsic value. Humble people have the right frame of mind for putting to use the gifts that God has given them and using their resources and influence for the good of others. If you think yourself 'better than', you aren't likely to use what you have to serve others; if you think yourself 'better than', you harbor the desire or hope that you can get others to serve you. If you follow the example of Jesus, you follow a God who dined with tax collectors and traitors, washed his followers' feet, and died like a criminal with criminals. There is no 'better than' in that. This is the heart of being humble: serving a God who is greater than us. Every once in a while you come across someone who is a ‘rare find’ as they possess extreme talent and yet are fully genuine in their love and humility and desire to serve others. One such person is my friend, Tommy Walker. I first got to know Tommy some 13 years ago, prior to his ‘well known’ status. Though an accomplished guitarist and beginning to be recognized in church circles as a gifted and talented singer / songwriter and worship leader, I watched Tommy remain humble. Later he would be called upon to play his music and led worship in huge settings like the Franklin Graham Crusade, Promise Keepers, Greg Laurie Harvest Crusades (filling baseball stadiums), Willow Creek with Bill Hybels, Saddleback with Rick Warren and New Hope Church with Wayne Cordeiro, these being some of the largest and most influential churches in America while always staying rooted in his growing home church in Eagle Rock, California. As he was being sought after he never sold out to his true calling and continued to write over 100 songs that are sung in churches all over the world including, He Knows My Name, Only A God Like You, That's Why We Praise Him, Lord I Believe In You, Mourning Into Dancing and his latest, Break Through. Along with this he has written two books and taught at seminars and conferences. None of this has changed his humility and love for God and fellow man, actually it has stirred him up to serve in a greater way and to reach out with his best to those that have the least. His belief that: “every person is created to give glory to their Creator”, has motivated Tommy for the last decade to travel internationally holding worship concerts and mercy ministry outreaches to the Philippines, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Guatemala, Zambia, Brazil and deep into the heart of Los Angeles. Tommy has served as an inspiration to my life – his music moves me, his songs help me connect with God and his heart for others and for the impoverished children of our world is deeply moving. In recent years I have been challenged by Jesus' words in Matthew 25:40, "Whatever you did for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for me." These words have challenged Tommy’s heart too. This is why I invited my friend Tommy to come to Lompoc next Friday night and to play his music and share the love of God with others in our community. Hopefully this concert will inspire us to use our talents and gifts for the good of others and the glory of God. We are fortunate to have Tommy, his band, backed up by a multi-church choir as we welcome him Friday night at 7:00 PM at Trinity Church, 500 East North. Tickets are 10 dollars with the entire ticket price going to impoverished children in Manila, Philippines. For more about Tommy or to purchase tickets online go to tommywalker.net or contact my church at 736-2772. The impact of my friend reminds me to serve others, use my influence and resources to provide blessing and love to others. I encourage you to use your gifts of God and the good of others and to move into greater humility and give our best to those with less than us.