“We are all saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our church’s most valuable members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing created a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Someone Else has been with us for many years, and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results: “Someone Else can work with that group.” Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list - Someone Else. “Let Someone Else do it” was a common refrain heard throughout the church. It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the largest givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference. Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman; but a person can only do so much. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? Remember - we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore!”*
Even the great leader Moses was afflicted with this malady. After trying to evade God’s call with several other excuses, it was his final plea that aroused the anger of God. “But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13 ESV). Moses was the one God wanted for the job, not someone else! And with God’s help, Moses did the job instead of someone else.
It’s so easy to assume that someone else will do what needs to be done. It’s so easy to leave the work for someone else to do. But maybe it's time for you or I to be “Someone Else.”
God loves you!
Mike
*https://saltforsermons.org.uk/category/christian-character/
