Miguel de Unamuno was a Spanish writer, philosopher, and professor of Greek and Classics at the University of Salamanca, where he later became rector. In one of his essays, he tells about the Roman aqueduct found in the city of Segovia, in his country, Spain. The aqueduct, built in 109 A.D., remained actively carrying fresh water from the mountains to the city for eight centuries, quenching the thirst of nearly 60 generations.
Unamono writes: “Then came another generation, a recent one, who said, ‘This aqueduct is so great a marvel that it ought to be preserved for our children, as a museum piece. We shall relieve it of its centuries-long labor.’”
And so, they did. The city laid modern iron pipes to bring in water to its streets, thus choosing to “give the ancient bricks and mortar a reverent rest.” Their goal was to preserve this iconic historical landmark for future generations.
Instead, the aqueduct soon started to fall apart. Without the water to irrigate its bricks, the sun hitting the age-old structure dried the mortar, causing it to crumble. The unrepairable dry stones and bricks quickly threatened to fall.
Unamuno’s conclusion gave me pause: “What ages of service could not destroy, idleness disintegrated.”
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
These words are recorded in the 20th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles in the Christian New testament. This chapter narrates the apostle Paul’s third missionary journey throughout Asia Minor, where, accompanied by other early evangelists, the apostle traveled to carry out the Great Commission to the gentiles in Roman Territory, while serving new believers and their communities.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
I thought about those words when our choir director recognized my 20 years of service at our church’s choir this week. My husband and I joined our church in February 2000. That very week, I set foot in the choir room for the first time.
Serving in that choir has not always been convenient, especially since I live 28 miles from my church and therefore, must face the ever-growing Atlanta traffic one extra day every week. Between deadlines, coaching volleyball, and my children’s schedules, life can undoubtedly be hectic. There have also been times during the years when disappointments with people in the choir or physical hardships made me want to step down from serving. But every time I prayed about it, a firm conviction grabbed my heart. Not only does worshiping God in song bring me great joy, but I am also keenly aware that it is while serving others that I wholly fulfill my life’s purpose.
Through the years, I have met many people who were once highly involved serving in their places of worship or communities, but later stopped serving. Many of them stopped attending services altogether, often developing a certain cynicism concerning service and the church. The problem is that such distrust and misanthropy does not remain isolated. If not dealt with quickly and adequately, cynicism can easily spread to our relationship with God and steal our peace.
I believe there is a reason why we read God’s warnings concerning serving others throughout Scriptures. The gifts and talents God gave us should never be confined to the walls of our homes. God gives us these gifts so we can bless others, and therefore, as Jesus said, we are only indeed “blessed” when we give them away.
Just as the bricks and mortar of the aqueduct of old crumbled down when it stopped serving its purpose, many of God’s people are drying up today. Whether due to disappointments, selfishness or busyness, their life is lacking joy and meaning simply because they stopped the living water from flowing through them to quench the thirst of those God called them to serve.
May the vision of that old aqueduct, standing against the test of time and elements, encourage us not to allow idleness to steal our God-given purpose, and remind us that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive.
Patricia Holbrook is a columnist, author, blogger and international speaker. Her newly published “Bible Study – Twelve Inches” starts online on March 2. Visit her website www.soaringwithHim.com to register. For speaking engagements and comments, email pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com
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