Sending your car to the mechanic’s shop is never a blissful experience but leaving it at a new repair shop overnight is even worse. Last night we left our car at a new mechanic’s shop whom we’d never met on a street we didn’t even know existed. Aside from speaking with him on the phone to arrange the repair or this morning as he rattled off the list of repairs I had never even spoken to this person or seen his work. Where did this capacity for trust come from? My trust in him was not based on personal knowledge of his work, he’d never worked for me. My trust in him wasn’t based on first hand knowledge at all! Rather, my trust in him was vicariously built upon the recommendation of his reputation from friends. He treated them right and proved his trustworthiness so it was my hope that he would do the same for us.

I’ve never thought about it before but just like a mechanic, my success as a missionary stands or falls on my reputation too. When we ask people to financially support us we’re asking them to trust us. Most of them have never seen our work, have never been to the places we’re going, and will probably never know the impact their support makes. What that means is that we are obligated to maintain our reputations no matter the cost. Whatever you’re doing and wherever you’re serving, with daily repentance and humility, cherish and nurture your reputation. At the end of the day, it’s all we have.

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

Tags: Missionary Life, Support, Giving