I am such a cave dweller. I love being in my home: reading, writing, planning, organizing. Especially on rainy days or when winter (such as it is in Florida) sets in. I prefer to be perfectly oblivious to this fact (that I’m cave-dwelling) as I go about my days in typical introverted fashion. However, there have been two different niggling, pesky reminders as of late, that won’t allow it.

What is it that disturbs my cave-like existence? The first thing is my annoying smart watch. It keeps sending me meddlesome comments like, “Don’t you want to stand?” and “Make it happen.” How rude! I’m perfectly fine snuggled in my cave with my book, thank you.

The other intrusive reminder came from my doctor, bless her heart. She left a message stating that according to my recent bloodwork, I’m deficient in vitamin D of all things. Apparently, vitamin D doesn’t like cave-dwellers. Her prescription was to get out of my cave and sit or walk in the sun, as well as take a vitamin D supplement.

Is there anything wrong with staying in my comfy cave all the time? Well, unfortunately, the world is outside my cave. I can’t reach them when I’m in here. There are exceptions, of course. I can write cards to encourage people and use my cell phone to reach out when I’m in my cave. But engaging physically with the world is what the Christian life is all about

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 NAS

We have work to do. Peter reminds us that because Jesus will perhaps return soon, believers are to use our spiritual gifts for the benefit of the church and to the glory of God.

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

Perhaps the most important reason we must engage with the world is because of what Jesus told His disciples right before he returned to heaven after the resurrection. This command is also ours. We call it The Great Commission. Jesus said,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

When we emerge from our caves into the sunlight, we can: teach, serve, give, encourage, build, disciple, visit, go on mission, and share the Gospel. When we engage with the world, we display the love of God to others, draw them into the fold, and fulfill our calling.

Wait a minute, that all sounds really hard. After all, I’m an introverted cave-dweller. Well, we don’t do any of these things in our own power. We are flawed and wholly inadequate for the task on our own. Fortunately, when we come to know Christ, we are imbued with the Holy Spirit, equipping us for the tasks we’re called to do. We have the tools in our spiritual toolbelt.

As a writer, I do spend a lot of time inside writing. But if I spent every minute of my week inside typing on my computer, I’d miss the blessing of using other parts of myself to encourage others. All of us have various gifts—and talents, God uses those, too. Sometimes we know the areas in which we’re talented but have never explored our spiritual giftedness. Those two things are not the same. There are surveys online to help us. Your pastor may be able to help, as well. I encourage you to look into it.

If you’re a cave-dweller like me. Join me in venturing out into the sunlight this week. Not just for your health, but so that you can encourage and bless others with your gifts as you fulfill God’s purpose for your life. The world is waiting.