Just Right

Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters 2011

We all derive a certain feeling of satisfaction from being in the “Goldilocks zone,” where everything feels “just right.” Like the little girl in the fairy tale, we don’t want to sit in a chair that is too big, or one that is too small, but in one that is “just right.”

My husband and I recently witnessed a maritime version of this tale while we were at the beach. It was a perfect day, with sun shimmering on the calm azure waves, and wispy clouds floating lazily through the robin’s egg blue sky. Amidst all this tranquility was a hotspot of vibrant activity, where large silver fish were jumping from and diving into a frothy patch of surf, attracting the attention of a flock of terns.

We could almost palpably sense the frustration of these birds as they hovered over this appetizing meal, because despite the inviting aroma and gleaming silver scales of the fish, they were simply too big for the terns to catch!

From our earlier walk on the shore, we knew that a section of sand we refer to as “Coquina Beach” was teeming with jewel-toned, tiny coquina mollusks burrowing beneath the sand and resurfacing as the waves lapped the shore. These would have been a hearty feast for sandpipers, but for the terns, sadly, they were just too small.

Standing alone, apart from all the commotion, was a single tern who had found his Goldilocks zone! We had seen him dive close to the shore, where he snatched up a baby mullet, about 6 inches long, and was savoring it in his beak as he prepared to eat it. Happily, he had found the provisions that were, for him, “just right.”

It made me wonder about how we can find the Goldilocks zone in areas of church service and ministry. Many new Christians, who have saved by trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) as the only Way to Heaven (John 14:6), are initially on fire with their zeal to serve the Lord (2 Kings 10:16).

They envision some grand ministry opportunity, like becoming the preacher of a large church, or traveling abroad to plant a church in some remote foreign village, only to be disappointed when the Lord does not immediately grant their desire. At this early stage of their Christian walk, such a ministry opportunity would be “too big,” causing them to bite off more than they can chew. 

Baby Christians who have just been born again (John 3:3-8) need to be fed with the sincere milk of the Word (1 Peter 2:2), rather than attempting to digest the strong meat (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). They forget that we need to wait upon the Lord (Psalm 27:14; 37:7-9,34; Isaiah 40:31) and His perfect timing (Luke 12:42-48), and that He wants us to be faithful in the small things before He entrusts the larger things to our care (Matthew 25:21).

At the other extreme who is the Christian who has been saved for decades, yet is content with service that is “too small” or even nonexistent.  Such a Christian may be content to occupy the pew on Sunday morning, but never to come to other services or even to open their Bible on their own.

We wouldn’t dream of restricting our weekly eating to a single repast, no matter how fine, on Sunday morning, but instead look forward to three square meals every day, and perhaps some snacking in between! Yet these Christians who settle for “too small” are content to be spoon fed by their pastor once a week, never seeking spiritual nourishment and daily bread (Luke 11:3) from God’s Word themselves (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).

These Christians tend to have the same attitude about serving the Lord, not seeing the value in answering God’s call (Isaiah 6:8) for even the simplest requests. They shy away from menial tasks that they consider to be beneath their dignity, or from encouraging others who are beneath their station in life (James 2:1-9), or even from giving, perhaps grudgingly doling out some loose change for the collection plate (Luke 11:42) while neglecting tithing and love offerings (Malachi 3:8-14). They forget that to whom much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48), and that God is the source of all good gifts (James 1:17).

Their attitude toward God is that He is too small, as if He alone were not worthy of all our love, devotion, and service (Revelation 5:9). They forget that He alone owns the cattle on a thousand hills; that He needs nothing from us (Psalm 50:10-15) yet delights in blessing our faithfulness (Proverbs 28:20); and that we can’t outgive Him (Matthew 7:11; Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10). He is Almighty, all-powerful God (Psalm 147:5). Truly He deserves the best offerings of our time, talent and treasure.

Thankfully, there are Christians whose service for the Lord is “just right,” not in the sense of being self-righteous, but of being willing to listen to and follow His still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12) wherever it may lead (Isaiah 6:8).

Sometimes this may mean leaving the ministry opportunity that is “too big,” appearing to be fruitful and satisfying our pride, yet robbing us of the opportunity to grow in humility and total surrender to Him. We may enjoy being “first,” forgetting the paradox of Christian life that he who is last will be first (Matthew 19:30)

Sometimes finding the service opportunity that is “just right” means moving on from one that is “too little,” stepping out of our comfort zone and relying on Him, instead of on our own flesh (John 15:5; Psalm 52), to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Meanwhile, God will shape and mold us into His image (Philippians 3:10) by applying the pressure that is “just right.” He will not test us beyond what we are able to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13) by forcing us to endure a trial that is “too large.” When we are disobedient, He will not let us get by with a knowing wink (Acts 17:30) or slap on the wrist, for that would be “too little” for a loving parent. Instead, He will chastise us as sons and daughters, justly delivering consequences that are “just right” for our sin (Hebrews 12:6-11).

May He guide us in our Christian walk to serving Him in ways that are “just right” for His purpose that He has intended for each of us (Ephesians 2:10) since before the beginning of time!  May we then hear Him say (Matthew 25:21):

Well done, thou good and faithful servant:  thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  

© 2019 Laurie Collett