Dorcas – a Woman of Service
This past Sunday was Mothers’ Day, so for the rest of this week let's consider some of the ordinary women in the book of Acts who lived extraordinary lives - beginning with some women of service.
Tabitha (also known as Dorcas) is a good picture of this type of person, as we read in Acts 9:36-39: "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, 'Please come at once!' Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." (Acts 9:36-39)
Dorcas was a woman of service: doing good. Helping the poor. Using her skills to make lovely clothes.
I'm thankful for the Dorcas-types I see in the world around me! Those women who are always doing good. Who are committed to helping the poor in our town. Who make and create wonderful things to the glory of God.
We're all called to lives of service, of course. Not just the women.
Devoted to Doing Good
Paul, during this same era of the early church, wrote to a young minister named Titus and told him how to run his church. At one point he says: "I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good." (Titus 3:8)
A few verses later he says it again: "Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives." (Titus 3:14)
There are urgent needs that need seeing to. Be productive, and devote yourself to doing good, says Paul.
Dorcas was one who did this. Are you? Are you devoted to doing good? Devoted to helping others? Devoted to caring? Devoted to providing? Devoted to making things better?
Or are you just expecting everyone else to do it all, and complaining when they don't?
Making Holes in the Darkness
The famous author Robert Louis Stevenson tells a story of sitting by a window and watching a lamplighter light the streetlights below. His nurse came into the room and asked him what he was doing. "I am watching a man make holes in the darkness," he replied.
It's a dark world out there. There is much hatred, loss, and hurt. We are called to be lamplighters - making holes in the darkness by our acts of service.
Dorcas did it - how about you?
Dorcas modelled devoted, practical service to those in need - a challenge to every follower of Christ. Ask yourself today whether you are truly devoted to doing good, or leaving it to others.