Give an Ear to Those in Need

I am sitting in my seat, listening to a colleague describe the personal problems through which he is going. All of them seem to be pointing towards a divorce. I try to comfort him and encourage him to try to reconcile with his wife, but it is clear that he is not considering this as an option. I told him that I would pray for him on this topic, after which we went our own ways.
While this might sound like a typical counseling situation, the actual location was anything but that. I was sitting down in my seat in the orchestra, getting ready for the dress rehearsal for a concert that we would be playing the next day. In all actuality, such conversations are not out of the ordinary, but are quite common. In fact, I find it more of a surprise when such topics do not come up either before a rehearsal, during a break, or after rehearsal.
What I have learned in situations such as these is that I need to view my profession as a mission field and not just a career. Granted, most people will not want to listen and will want you to know that they do not need God, but you will be surprised just how many people are out there, looking for help and burdened down with cares. We as believers need to react in two ways:
       1.      Listen attentively. They are hurting, and we need to show an interest in not only hearing about their problems but also in showing that we care for them as a person.
       2.      Encourage them to act biblically. While the chances are they might not want to do the right thing (as in the story I mentioned above) there is always a chance they will listen. The key is no matter what the situation is to always point them in the direction that they need to go. You might even get a chance to share the gospel, but most likely, all you will have time to do will be to simply given an admonition about what they need to do.
Remember, we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord, and it does not matter what our profession is. Whether we are a janitor or a politician, we need to make sure that we view our job as an opportunity to present a gospel testimony to the lost, showing people that life does have a purpose and that there is a God that cares about both you and me.


Even Duke