The Be’s of Sainthood

When using the term sainthood, I am simply referring to those attending a local church. I am speaking of the congregants, the people who make up the crowd.

In observation through the years, it appears to me that there are a number of possible stages that saints will live in, or pass through. There are some roles that we are likely to fill as saints.

Be Fed

The first of these is to be fed. When in this role saints participate in the church in order to be personally fed. She attends for the preacher to feed me, to talk to me, to minister to me. This is clearly a phase of sainthood that is self-focused. The saint is thinking: “I need a blessing, a healing, encouragement or inspiration. I’ve come to get what God has for me today.”

This is certainly a common stage of sainthood, and a necessary one. All people need to grow in Christ. All folks have needs to be met by Jesus. Even those who seem to have all things in order in their lives, those who have great marriages, wonderful careers, and excellent health still need Jesus. Jesus is the only one who can cleanse mankind from sin. Thus, all men must visit the phase of sainthood known as being fed.

However, at some point in our Christian growth, maturity dictates that we are no longer solely dependent on others to feed us. We become capable of feeding ourselves. Saints can, and should have their own feeding times. Maturing saints are to have personal times of prayer, reading, study and meditation. As I grow in this devotion, the congregation plays a different role in my life. Sure, I’ll still enjoy and need fresh manna from the pulpit, but I’m not depending on that to survive. I’ve been eating on my own.

The role of church leadership for this group is to make sure that they are being fed. Leadership must guarantee that proper spiritual meals are being prepared. That all food groups are being presented and that the meals are nutritious and filled with vitamins. 

Be a Feeder

With proper exhortation and motivation, saints recognize that their role as Christians is not only for their own personal growth. Church participation is not just about me. While maturing, saints begin to look beyond self and toward others. Thus, he participates in church so that he can serve others. No longer simply being fed, but now becoming one of the feeders. He is in the congregation to see someone else be blessed, be healed, or be encouraged.

Being a feeder may take place while serving in organized leadership (i.e. Sunday School teacher) but it doesn’t need to. The attitude to serve others is not dependent on position. This is an attitude. Nehemiah wrote, “Remember be, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.” A feeder is focused on doing something for others.

The role of church leadership toward people in this stage is to create an environment that encourages them to it. Further, leadership needs to release saints to fulfill their personal ministry, and create systems and programs that train them on effective fulfillment of the same.

Be Frustrated

When a church doesn’t feed those who need to be fed, or it doesn’t facilitate those ready to be feeders, saints will be frustrated. Frustration is that feeling of dissatisfaction when your expectations are not being realized. Rueben was frustrated when he went back to the pit to remove his brother Joseph, but found that he was missing. Unable to realize his plans, he tore his clothes in anguish and frustration (Gen 37:29 NLT).

A frustrated saint is one who has a desire to fulfill their place in the congregation, however that opportunity is not afforded them. A saint may genuinely need to be fed from the Word of God in order to face a life circumstance. But if the message is not shared in a manner understandable, or applicable, then that person leaves without having found substance for their circumstance. Or possibly, a saint has talents that would benefit the local church and the Kingdom of God, but the leadership does not offer means for that talent to be used, or released. In either case, unmet expectations will lead to frustration.

Church leadership needs to recognize that frustration is not rebellion, or a bad attitude. Frustration is simply the result of folks who have higher expectations of the congregation. And since we are in the business of propagating the Kingdom of God, higher expectations are a means to improve the church’s impact in this world. Thus, leadership can be on the lookout for saints who may be falling prey to frustration, and create an atmosphere and a means for folks to share their concerns. Thus allowing the church to recognize valid concerns, and improve its ministry accordingly.

Typically, folks won’t endure long in a state of frustration. They’ll either be fed, be a feeder, or they’ll be finished.

Be Finished

In modern culture, folks not being fed, or feeding others will not remain long in a frustrating atmosphere. They are too accustomed to finding other options, and other options are usually available. If there seems no end to the frustration, folks will find another church that provides the ministry they need, or assume that all churches minister the same and quit altogether. Since we’d prefer they stay, the church must constantly evaluate its ability to feed those who need it, to develop saints into feeders, and to provide means for them to use this skill.

Lessons from Mr. Gore

On a typical afternoon, two typical teens walked along a typical sidewalk in a typical town. Typically, they talked of things on the minds of teens. During their conversation, Bobby, age seventeen, began to speak of particular matters going on in his life. Things he was thinking, things he was saying, and things he was doing. As the slightly younger Jesse listened to Bobby, his heart was quickened. He realized that Bobby had sin in his life. Quite candidly Jesse told Bobby that he needed to remedy his sin situation. The plain truth of Jesse’s words brought conviction upon Bobby. In response, he suggested that they pay a visit to Mr. Gore. Even though Jesse didn’t know Mr. Gore, he agreed to go along.
 
Arriving at Mr. Gore’s home, they walked onto the porch and knocked on the door. Mr. Gore greeted them kindly and invited them inside. In no time, Bobby was explaining his predicament to this godly man. Then, as if knowing the answer but needing encouragement, Bobby asked if they could pray, right there in Mr. Gore’s living room. Mr. Gore was happy to oblige the two teens.

As they entered into prayer, Jesse was somewhat surprised to hear the others praying out loud, as if in conversation with other men. Jesse had never witnessed this type of prayer. However, he decided to join in this fervent effort. As they proceeded, the Spirit of the Lord entered into that home. Before long, tears were rolling down the faces of all three seekers. Jesse and Bobby spent time weeping in deep repentance. After some time Mr. Gore approached Jesse and laid his hands on him in special prayer. Within moments, Jesse was baptized with the gift of the Holy Ghost! A few minutes later, Mr. Gore and Jesse united in prayer for Bobby. As the two laid their hands on Bobby, he too received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Before the prayer meeting came to a close, passersby heard the prayers and entered into the house to join in the blessing. In no time, the living room was filled with hungry hearts. That afternoon was marked by a mighty move of the Lord upon Mr. Gore, Bobby, Jesse and all those who joined them in prayer.

I was privileged to hear this testimony from the one who experienced it. A gathering of young ministers sat reverently, gladly receiving each comment the preacher shared. Though many years removed from that prayer meeting, its effects still reverberated through the speaker’s message. Rev. Jesse Williams was impacted long ago by a man who was willing to open his home for prayer. A man named Mr. Gore. On that typical day, two typical teenaged boys were forever changed by an authentic move of God.

As those who are interested in youth, more and more I am concerned with the challenge of reaching today’s teens. When one considers all of the opportunities and pleasantries that clamor for the attention of youth, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and to get discouraged. How can the church get the attention of this generation? How can we persuade young adults to grant us some of their time? We can’t compete with the technology of Silicon Valley. We don’t have the financial resources of Wall Street. Our retreat announcements and rally flyers cannot contend with the fancy flair of Madison Avenue. We have neither the budgets nor the staff to offer comparable programs to those of the public schools and community centers. Hollywood’s entertainment machine cranks out material at an ever-increasing pace, far faster than we can create and implement new programs. Now, to make matters even more challenging, it appears that many characteristics of a United Pentecostal Church are no longer unique. We are not the only church in town offering exuberant, contemporary worship. It is not the only church in the area with an active youth program. Ours is not the only pastor who delivers his sermons in a passionate, charismatic style. Other churches are offering multimedia presentations, missions experiences, youth choirs and summer camps. In the midst of so much activity, how will our youth programs stand apart?

I believe that three low-tech, low-budget, yet legitimate lessons can be learned from Mr. Gore. These lessons can allow our youth ministries to make a profound impact in the lives of youth. On a typical day in Mr. Gore’s life, he made himself available, he expressed a heartfelt interest, and he fostered a move of God. Applying these characteristics will cause our programs not only to rise above the crowd, but also to make a victorious difference.

Mr. Gore allowed his day to be interrupted. When two teenagers knocked on his door, he was not too busy to give them his attention. Before he lectured the young men, or gave them his opinion, he took the time to listen. His schedule of duties and responsibilities was not more important than the individuals who had come to his home. Mr. Gore had a vision of the gospel that was more than a distant view of a lost world. He had not fallen prey to the belief that evangelism was only a grand and extravagant affair. He knew that God not only touches people in crusades and revivals, but He also changes lives one on one. So rather than excuse himself from the largess of global evangelism, he chose to affect a lost soul personally. He made himself available.

Mr. Gore was not put-off by young people coming to his home. What was it that caused Bobby to consider going to Mr. Gore’s residence? Why did Bobby and Jesse feel free to knock on his door? Likely it was more than an announcement that proclaimed Mr. Gore’s interest in youth. It was probably more than a sign on his door welcoming teens to approach. Something had been done on Bobby’s behalf that made him realize Mr. Gore was interested in young people. Maybe it was the time he spent chaperoning youth events. Possibly he had taken time off work to be a counselor at Bobby’s youth camp. Maybe he was a Sunday School teacher that showed his burden well beyond Noon on Sunday. It could be that Mr. Gore often prayed around the church altar, laying a hand on the shoulder of struggling teens, encouraging them in the Lord. Whatever the specific action may have been, Mr. Gore expressed clearly and visibly that he was interested in young people.

It was typical to pray in Mr. Gore’s home. Somehow people in the neighborhood knew that he was comfortable with prayer. This man cultivated his reputation as a man of prayer. Prayer was not only practiced in his church, it was a part of his home life. His was not the type of prayer that one fell asleep uttering. His was the kind of prayer that summoned a move of God. Prayer that was genuine and desirous. When he sought the Lord, he meant business. He expected a move of God’s Spirit. It did not matter what other events were taking place, when there was a move of God, people would take notice. Folks would hear from the street and desire to join in. Mr. Gore expected and cultivated a real move of God.

While it may be unlikely that one will be able to finance his youth program like Wall Street, market events like Madison Avenue, or use the very latest technology of Silicon Valley, he can learn and apply the lessons lived by Mr. Gore. Each one can make himself available to youth, show an interest in their lives, and foster an authentic move of God. Certainly there are many more typical teens like Jesse and Bobby in our neighborhoods. The question is, will I be a Mr. Gore?

Creative Teaching Techniques

Synopsis: In order to apprehend the attention of youth on a weekly basis, we must prepare sessions that are more than “just another lecture”. Their schools have likely adapted various teaching methods over the past number of years. Since they are increasingly accustomed to these alternative teaching methods, students will dread classes that do not offer variety. They are likely to lose interest, and may eventually quit attending altogether. Successful youth leaders realize the need and actively pursue creative methods of teaching.

I. Introduction: If teens are not listening to a lesson, it may very well be that the speaker is not doing what he should in order to grasp their attention. While easy to berate a group that is not attentive, genuine response is not fostered through fear of humiliation or correction. Rather, people listen when the presenter has something valuable to say and he presents it in a desirable fashion. An audience will actively receive and respond to a session that is enticing.

II. Enticing Meetings Draw Youth: Concerning the validity of the previous statement, consider the following questions. Does Hollywood “make” kids come to their movies or watch their television shows? Does Madison Avenue “force” youth to buy clothes at Ambercrombie or the Gap? Do Sony or Nintendo “require” kids to rush to Toys R Us and buy the newest video games? Do BMG, EMI, or Warner “coerce” teens into Sam Goody, Wal-Mart, Target, or Tower Records to buy their latest musical wares? Of course not.

Rather than coercion, these companies know to entice their customers. We should know to do the same. If we will work to make our meetings enticing, then we will witness participation by a willing group of teens. We will more readily be able to affect the youth who are in attendance because they have chosen to be there.

III. Enticing Meetings Require Work: It is not easy to host an enticing meeting. Lazy leaders need not apply for this job. When one is short of time, has many other responsibilities, and tries to work youth ministry into his other obligations, it is often easiest to do what requires the least amount of preparation. Standard lecturing requires studying given material and praying for the Lord’s anointing. When very pressed for time, one might pray and study very little. Then that leader stands at the lectern and reads from the teacher’s manual, praying that God somehow honors it. Or possibly, one reads a verse of Scripture and proceeds to share a number of unconnected stories that come to mind, hoping that, in the end, the teens “get something out of it”.

If a teacher makes a habit of studying little, and then asking God to help him make it through this week’s lesson, then that teacher will inevitably lose the interest of the youth within his ministry. They will soon recognize the lack of preparation. Once they feel that the leader is not concerned enough to prepare, they will not believe that the material presented is very important.

Presenting enticing meetings requires a change in attitude and mindset if we are accustomed to merely haphazard lecturing. To prepare meetings that catch the attention of teens, we must work very hard to prepare for each session. A successful youth leader will labor intensely on the meeting’s content and format.

Sometimes My Preaching Stinks

Am I the only one who thinks this way from time to time? Am I the only one who leaves a Sunday service feeling like I have just dropped the ball in extravagant fashion? Are there others who have finished a service and wondered how such a good thought could wind up coming out so pitifully? Somehow, I don’t think that feelings like these are unique to my experience.

In the course of ministry, there are a variety of outcomes to our efforts. Whether preaching, teaching, singing, or simply testifying, sometimes we see wonderful results, and other times, it seems as if our efforts were worthless. Over time, this variety of outcomes can be confusing.

Why does this happen? What is going on? Why is it that I can preach in one service and the “house comes down,” and then preach the same thing another time, in a different setting, and the people fall asleep while I’m preaching?

I clearly recall such a situation. One Friday evening I was to preach a Statewide Youth Rally. I followed my usual routine of prayer and preparation for the service. Then I conscientiously delivered what I felt to be God’s word for that service. In the end, the youth in attendance responded genuinely and wonderfully to the Word and Spirit of the Lord. We had great church.

Exactly one week later, I was to preach the exact same kind of meeting in a different state. In prayer and preparation, I felt to preach the exact same message as the week prior. In the same kind of meeting, to the same kind of audience, I delivered the same Bible-based message that had brought such genuine response the previous week. But this time around, the audience just stared at me when I made the altar appeal. As I struggled to get the youth to respond to the Lord and His Word, they were very reluctant. In the end, they did pray, but it was not a genuine, heartfelt response. They seemed to pray out of habit and respect for tradition.

Immediately, the questions began in my mind. What happened? Is there something wrong with me? Is there something wrong with the people? Was there something about the situation that I did not learn in prayer? Is there something else that I should have done? These are real questions and feelings that ministers face.

As a preacher, I recognize two particular facets of sermon preparation and presentation that are of interest. The first deals with whether or not I, as the preacher, feel like I have “heard from God” for the service. Preachers realize that we can preach anything from the Bible and it is the Word of God, but I am speaking about the preacher’s desire to preach from the specific portion of Scripture that would be the Will of God for that specific service. The second aspect is in regard to the sermon presentation. It has to do with whether or not the congregation responds as if the sermon is indeed a Word from God. Do they willingly and desirously react to the sermon’s call to action? Or do they blankly stare as if unaware of the sermon’s point? The combinations of these two aspects create four possible settings.

1. I don’t feel like I have heard from God, and the congregation responds like they agree with my feelings.

2. I don’t feel like I have heard from God, but the church responds wholeheartedly anyway.

3. I feel like I have heard from God, but the audience doesn’t respond in kind.

And finally,

4. I feel like I have heard from God, and the congregation responds in agreement with my feelings.

Though there are other dimensions of sermon preparation and presentation, I sense that these four scenarios entail the largest percentage of the ministry experience. As such, it would be good to explore each of them and discover the pitfalls and practical responses.

Prosperous Preaching

And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying (preaching) of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.   
Ezra 6:14 (KJV)

Preaching that prospered the people.

I am intrigued by this concept.

How can I do the same?
How can I preach so that it is prosperous to those who hear it?
What can I do to make sure that my preaching is benefiting those in attendance?

I don’t know about others, but I have a goal not to waste anyone’s time with my preaching.

Folks work hard all week and have many obligations on their time. I certainly don’t want them to view time spent listening to my message as time that is wasted.

It seems to me a worthy goal to value other people’s time as much as I would like them to value mine.

Not only do I fear that I might waste their time, but I also fear that I would not connect with them. I’m concerned that somehow, even though I am preaching the truth, and even though I believe I have an understanding to share from the Lord, that yet, I am not able to communicate that understanding in a manner that listeners can receive it. I’ve come to recognize that my knowing their need and knowing the truth is simply not enough to communicate to everybody.

Some folks simply think differently than I do.
Some people have different values than I do.
Some attendees focus on things that I do not.

I fear that these genuine and real differences would hinder me from prosperous preaching.

Maybe this story will better illustrate my point.

“A woman in NYC walked into a bar waving a dollar bill and shouting, “Quiero Cambio.” No one knew what she was saying. One patron tried to calm her down, but in her excitement she poked him in the face. The police were called, and she was sent to Bellevue hospital, where she was sedated and spent the next few days.

When a Spanish-speaking social worker arrived, she huddled with the patient, and seconds later raced out the door to her car and drove furiously to the Bronx.

There, in an old tenement building, she found three children who had died of dehydration. Their mother was in the bar trying to get change to call a doctor. The children died because no one spoke their language.”  (Dan Reeve, Shepherding the Poor, Beacon. May/June 2002)

When attempting prosperous preaching, that’s the lady that I’m concerned about.

Her need was genuine. In fact, she knew she had a need and she even knew what that need was.

Her desire was authentic. She left her house on her own. Of her own accord she ventured out looking for help. Her real desire had driven her to action.

Her need could have been supplied. Her need was not unrealistic. Her answer was readily available, and easy to supply.

Yet, desire, need, nor a ready-answer was enough to guarantee her satisfaction. What she really needed was someone who spoke her language. What she needed was someone who could communicate with her; someone who could understand her. Unfortunately, she didn’t find what she really needed. And her children perished.

As a preacher, a professed communicator, I am bothered by this story. I know that there are sinners in our world, in our neighborhoods, at our workplaces that are just as genuine, just as needy and just as desperate as this woman. I am convinced that there are people who really would like to find answers to their problems.

And as this Hispanic lady who ventured into the bar, I think about an unbeliever who would wander into a church where I happened to be ministering, and I fear that she would find similar circumstance.

I fear that a desperate soul would come to a church searching for relief, and instead find a culture that speaks an entirely different language. God forbid that a person would be crying out for help, and I am totally unable to understand his need.

I pray that people don’t feel so frustrated by their church experience that they lash-out. Not with a fist, but with an attitude that drives them away from the church.

Some might say….

“Well, she’s in the United States now. We speak English here. And if she had learned our language, then everything would have been fine……”

Without getting into all the politics of such a mindset, I wonder if we sometimes subconsciously adopt a similar attitude in the church.

“Hey, if you need salvation, learn to speak the language of the preacher, you’re in a Christian church now. We speak Christianese here.”

“And if you really want help, you’ll learn to understand our vernacular.”

I believe that prosperous preaching addresses people where they are, not from where I am.  Prosperous preaching works hard to understand the language, thoughts, attitudes, & experiences of the one who doesn’t understand Christianity. We’ll not wait for them to understand us to find their answers, rather, we are intent on doing all we can to understand them.

I have spent my entire life in the church.
Pentecostalism is all that I know.
I was raised speaking this language.

As such, it is so easy for me to slip into wording, phrases and concepts in my speaking that readily speaks to saints, but would seem like a foreign language to a sinner. I feel like the more I use this ‘foreign’ language the more likely I am to alienate unbelievers.

Consider:

When leading a service, I encourage and direct the assembly to participate in the worship, but do the words of the choruses connect with all people, or do they more directly relate to saints?

I find it so easy to preach that God delivers from illicit sex & illegal drugs. And while this is true, are these the vices that all sinners are struggling with?

Do I also preach about deliverance from pride, anger, & depression?

I wonder what a sinner thinks when I say that God wants the “backslider” to come home?

What is a backslider? Is that some kind of skateboard trick?

What does the guest think when I address ‘sanctification’?

Sanctification? Is that like pasteurization?

I’ll not run through a list of nitpicking terms, however in sharing these, my intent is to provoke our thoughts concerning preaching.

Is my preaching truly prosperous to the people?

Wouldn’t it be a shame if a desperate person couldn’t relate to our message, could not understand our direction, and rather than hanging around, trying to learn the language, decided instead to go somewhere else, and even accept less truth, simply because it was shared in their own language?

God, help our preaching to be prosperous.

An Extraordinary Turn of Events

What a morning. What an incredibly frustrating morning. We started out fairly early today. Maybe that was our mistake. Rather than missing the morning rush-hour traffic, we’ve been slogging along right in the middle of it. Not a well-thought-out plan. To make matters worse, the weather is atrocious. The snow started falling around 4 a.m. and has only intensified for hours now. The road crews can’t keep up. We’ve seen five or six cars on the side of the road or in the medians, and have even driven, or should I say crawled, past a couple of accidents. Welcome to Chicago.

But we have no choice. We have to make this trip today. We’re on our way downtown for an appointment with our priest. Today is the day we are presenting our baby to the Lord. It has to happen today. So here we are, Seth and I and our new baby, inching along in parking-lot traffic, in the middle of a snow storm. The frustration is all over Seth’s face. He can barely see out of the windshield. The defrost fan in our old Escort is barely blowing and just can’t keep up. In fact, the heater isn’t keeping the pace either. Thankfully, our precious child is sleeping peacefully in the car seat. He’s oblivious to all of this. In fact, I really needed to make a video journal of these recent days. But until we can afford a camera, I’ll just have to make due with my written notes and vivid memory. Should I miss any detail, I’m sure that Seth will fill in the blanks.

 

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What an uncanny week this has been. When we left the apartment eight days ago, I simply could never have predicted this series of events. There is no way that any number of childbirth classes, birthing-room tours or obstetrician consultations could have prepared us for the birth of this baby.

 

We shouldn’t have been traveling this late in Arie’s pregnancy, but there was no way around it. Due to some new Illinois law, we both had to present certified copies of our birth certificates to the social services department in order to obtain assistance for the baby. And we really needed that help, as my fledgling woodworking business isn’t making much money and we certainly can’t afford health insurance. So, after searching for my certificate in every likely, and unlikely, place in our apartment, we started the drive from Ottawa to my home neighborhood on the South Side of the city.

 

The little courthouse in the middle of town was the only place I could get a certified birth certificate. I had to apply in person. But we didn’t make it to the courthouse that day.

About midway along in our trip, Arie started to have contractions. She’d been having them off and on for some days now. However, it wasn’t long before she noticed that these seemed different. Naturally, she started timing them, and I started sweating. Sure enough, they were getting more frequent. And by the way she was squeezing my arm and punching the car door, I could tell that they were also getting more intense. Now what?

 

She had to stop. Now. But where? How could I find a hospital? We sure didn’t have a GPS navigation system in our ’89 Escort! Did we even have time for that? And then I noticed a Motel 6 sign. I sped to the motel and ran to the front desk to ask about a nearby hospital. As I was getting directions, Arie burst into the lobby, crying out in pain. We weren’t going to a hospital. The counter person called 911. At this point, the motel manager rushed from a nearby office. Quickly assessing the situation, she bemoaned the fact that their motel was entirely full. And the lobby was certainly no place to bring a baby into the world. All she could offer was the laundry room. We could get as comfortable as possible in there while we waited on the EMT’s. At least there would be plenty of linens if the EMT’s didn’t make it on time. They didn’t.

 

Arie’s labor was unusually brief for a first pregnancy. By the time the ambulance arrived we were already the proud parents of a wonderful baby boy. When the EMT’s came into the laundry, their faces couldn’t hide their surprise. Arie was resting quietly, propped against a wall, snuggled into some motel blankets. I was standing beside a laundry cart, its top covered with six or eight Motel 6 towels. In the center of this makeshift bassinette was our promised child, wrapped in common white bed sheets. He immediately drew the EMT’s attention. I’m sure I smiled broadly as they laid eyes on the center of our universe.

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Am I Faithful?

Am I faithful? Of course. Think about it. When was the last time you came across a person who didn’t think of themselves as faithful? I can’t recall when I dealt with an individual who declared, “Don’t consider me, I’m not dependable”. In fact, I can’t think of a recent time that I listened to a person who declared themselves as dishonest, or inaccurate. Regardless of one’s track record, human nature causes the largest percentage of people to think highly of themselves. Yet, this self-measurement is typically faulty. And in truth, my personal opinion of my character is not what carries me through this life.

 

I may think I’m a hard worker, but it’s my employer’s estimation of work ethic that really makes the difference in my salary or promotion. I might consider myself a loving father, but it’s my children’s perception of my fatherhood that actually completes the relationship equation. So, if I am to be considered faithful, who would measure that? And exactly what would be measured on a scale of faithfulness? Faithfulness in the Kingdom of God has to be defined by the Word of God. Beyond my previously held assumptions of faithfulness, I must look to the One who is the ultimate judge of my character. Thankfully, He has given us His written word by which to discover such definitions.

 

The Bible contains many understandings of what it means to be faithful. One such description strikes me as particularly interesting. Within the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) the lord of the house addresses two of the three servants like this: “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 (Matthew 24:21,23). He calls them ‘faithful’. The two that receive this moniker are those who took the initial talents given to them by the master and doubled his investment. Within this text, it appears that faithfulness is related to increasing what you are given, making something more of it. Faithfulness is equated to being profitable.

 

The remaining passage further develops this concept. When speaking to the servant who simply hid the talent that was given to him, this is what the lord of the house had to say: Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury (Matthew 25:26-27). Contrary to being called faithful, this servant is labeled as ‘slothful’. Because he did no more than keep what he was originally given, the master sees him as lazy, not faithful. Yet, I believe that the defining moment in this text is what takes place next.

 

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath (Matthew 25:28-29). The slothful servant had his only talent taken away from him as judgment for his laziness. Then notice the final words of verse twenty-nine that describe why his talent was repossessed. But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. How can you take something from the man who has nothing? What was taken from the man was the talent that was given to him. Why then is he described as ‘him that hath not’? While he did have a talent, he did not have any profit from that talent. Though he preserved what was given to him, he didn’t increase what he was given. He was unprofitable. Since he had no increase, what he was given was viewed as nothing. In the eyes of the master, faithful servants invest the talents appropriated to them in such a way as to make a profit for the master’s kingdom.

 

What am I doing with the talents in my possession? A simple review of God’s blessings in my life allows me to realize that He has given me much. Simply having life is a gift. Am I using my life to profit the Kingdom of God? What about the Holy Ghost infilling? Am I using His power within me to benefit His Kingdom? Or am I simply trying to ‘keep it safe’? And what of the knowledge of the Scriptures that has been invested in me by caring pastors and teachers? Do I use this knowledge to promote Kingdom growth, or is it buried away in the recesses of my mind?

 

Questions like these cause me to squirm in my chair. And chair squirming often lends itself to the whisperings of human nature. When I am feeling squeezed by the challenge of Scripture, human nature is quick to share a litany of justifications. Human nature likes to bring to my mind things that might help me to feel more comfortable when Scripture challenges are in the air. So I have a choice to make. Who will I allow to answer my question? Who will I choose to be my judge, human nature or God Almighty? When asking the question, “Am I faithful?” whose report will I believe? The proper answer is clear. I’ll take the report of the One who is in control of my promotion.

Membership has its Privileges

They hadn’t seen the sun or stars for days. They hadn’t eaten for a long time. They had thrown overboard most everything that wasn’t tied down. In fact, they had given up hope of being rescued.

Then Paul called the shipmates together for a small-group meeting. He opened the session by reminding everyone that this situation wouldn’t have happened had they listened to him: an old-fashioned ‘told-you-so’. Human nature even got the best of Paul on occasion. But then, putting his flesh behind him, he went on to declare that they would lose the ship and be shipwrecked on an island for a while, but in the end, no one would lose their lives.

 

And how did he know this? Paul had experienced an angelic visitation. In fact, he said that “it was an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve”. He then went on to declare his conviction that “it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:23-25, NKJV).

 

The God to whom I belong.

 

Though it is interesting that Paul possessed such faith in God in the middle of dire circumstances, isn’t it more intriguing to know how he possessed this faith? What brought him to this place of faith in the face of extraordinary circumstances? How could he be so confident when he’d seen nothing but storm clouds for days on end?

 

An answer can be found in the few words Paul used to describe his angelic visit. He said it was an angel of “the God to whom I belong”. In fact, it could very well be that these words signify the foundation for his later comment: “I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” Paul seems to have placed great faith in the words of his God that stemmed from this understanding of belonging.

 

Indeed Paul’s assurance in the Lord proved legitimate. Following more that fourteen days at sea, the crew was shipwrecked. Yet, no lives were lost. They spent many months on the island of Malta, but in time they left to continue their trip. And all of these happened just as was foretold by the angel of the Lord. Of course, Paul was not surprised in the least by this outcome. He knew that God would perform as promised; because he belonged to Him.

 

Possession

 

Just what does belonging to God mean? For many, belonging most obviously speaks of possession: to be the property of a person or thing. In a later writing Paul explained to the Corinthians, “do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19 -20, NKJV).

 

Having entered into the Kingdom of God through repentance, baptism and the infilling of the Holy Spirit; as Christians, we are not our own, we belong to God. Though it may be something that we have heard a number of times and in various settings, it is still good to be reminded that we were bought with a price. (See also Hebrews 9:12 -15).

 

Calvary purchased our salvation. Christ’s death, burial and resurrection paid for our cleansing. His shed blood obtained individual opportunity to repent of sins, the chance to be baptized in His name, and the prospect of being filled with His Spirit. Or in the words of Peter: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, …but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18 -19, NKJV). As such, we belong to God. We are not our own. In terms of possession, he is the God to whom we belong.

 

Participation

 

Belonging fittingly refers to possession, yet it is not limited to that concept. When we belong to God, there are other implications for our lives. Belonging speaks of participation: to be attached or bound by birth, allegiance, or dependency.

 

In belonging to God, we are bound to Him by birth. We are not His simply through friendship or acquaintance, but we have been born into His family. Jesus instructed, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6, NKJV).

 

Paul addresses the same concept when writing to the church at Rome. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Rom. 8:14 -15, NKJV). Christians are not strangers, not outcasts, nor outsiders. But by the infilling of the Holy Ghost, we are sons. We belong to Him because we were born into His Kingdom by the Holy Ghost.

 

Additionally, this belonging goes beyond birth and proceeds toward allegiance. Obviously, every child can point to the existence of a father. All can recognize one who gave them life. Yet, it is another thing to offer one’s allegiance. “The God to whom I belong” refers to the One to whom I am loyal. Christians recognize the blessing He has given us; therefore we are devoted to Him. Thus, belonging to Him, is more than mere acknowledgement of His existence, but we have become faithful to Him. Whether feast or famine, good times or bad, blessing or cursing; we belong to Him. Our allegiance is with Him.

 

Priority

 

Probably the most wonderful understanding of belonging is that of a close relationship. This speaks of the unique and blessed belonging that is found in family. The belonging expressed between parents and children; between grandparents and their grandchildren. It is the wondrous sense of belonging that exists between husband and wife. This dimension of belonging is based on relationship. Not simply the blood relationship, but relationship founded on an understanding of the other.

 

In such relationships, we belong because we are loved. We belong because we are accepted. We are supported and comforted. As a result of many times of sharing and conversation we sense that belonging. Since we have stood by one another in difficult times, we are certain that we belong. So it is with our God: The God to whom we belong.

 

Proper classification

 

In belonging to God, we have an understanding that we are properly classified, that we are in a proper situation. We have the right label. We have been given the correct Name. We are as those referenced in the book of Acts who belonged to the Way, (Acts 9:2, NIV). Or possibly we might better relate to the words recorded in Isaiah: “One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’S,’ and will take the name Israel” (Isaiah 44:5, NIV).

 

We belong to the LORD. In Him we are Christians, Believers, Children of the King, The Redeemed, and Saints of the Most High. Individual saints ought to rightly recognize that belonging to Him is proper recognition. It’s a logo to wear well. It’s a name to carry proudly. It’s an association with which to be incredibly comfortable. This is where we fit in. We have found our place.

 

Promise & Perks

 

In belonging to God and His Kingdom, we become a part, an extension, of something much bigger than ourselves. And within that extension, we enjoy the promises and perks of that bigger entity. For instance, when I belong to the American Automobile Association (AAA), I receive the benefits of membership. Free towing, roadside assistance, travel planning, & other advantages are all accessible to me simply because I belong to an organization bigger than myself.

 

When I belong to the Lord, there are also perks, privileges, and promises that are mine. Paul said, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29, NIV). Peter wrote, “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, NKJV). And John penned, “this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25, NKJV). Or, as the old songwriter composed, “Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter, every verse, every line.” When we belong to Christ, there is an inheritance of blessing that is simply a part of the package.

 

This aspect of belonging is especially good to recall in the midst of a culture that can be so critical of Christianity. I recall a time as a younger man when I was not as versed in this aspect of belonging. On one particular weekend, I was helping a traveling construction crew finish painting a water tower. Over lunch one day, the foreman of the job noted my Christianity and proceeded to share with me, and all at the table, his views of the same. In his mind, the Kingdom of God, with all of its ‘trappings’, was no more than a crutch. Christianity, in his mind, was only for those who could not successfully handle life on their own. His unspoken implication was that since he didn’t have any addictions, tragedies, or relationship problems in his life, then he had no need for Christ. Unfortunately, he caught me without a reasonable answer. So I just sat there, staring at my lunch plate.

 

Thankfully, since that time I have come to realize that belonging to God means so much more than assistance with life’s difficulties. Again, I’ll reference AAA. As a member for many years, I have found that there are a number of good reasons to belong to this organization. Most regard AAA as the group that can start your car when the battery is dead, send a locksmith when you’ve locked the keys in the car, or tow the car when you’ve landed in a ditch on a snowy day. However, AAA is not just for rescuing from trouble, but there are other privileges of membership. I get 30% discounts on eyeglasses and exams for my entire family. My wife receives discounts on purchases at some of her favorite stores. When going on a trip, we obtain numerous travel planning perks. In fact, I don’t ever have to need a tow truck to appreciate my membership. I have come to see AAA for all that it really is. In addition to its hazard benefits, it is loaded with privileges.

 

And the same is true for the Kingdom of God. What a blessing it is for Christians to recognize and declare that belonging to God is not just a rescue operation. Certainly God delivers addicts, mends relationships, cures diseases, and cleanses mankind from sin. However, He is not solely about deliverance. There are blessings, promises, and spiritual perks that are a wonderful part of being a member. Since I belong to Christ, my life can be filled with a variety of victorious moments. Membership has its privileges.

 

So I believe God

 

A final benefit of belonging to God is a matter of faith. As you’ll recall, when Paul spoke to the men in that storm-ravaged ship, he ended his discourse by noting “I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25, NKJV). When we are possessed by a heartfelt understanding of our belonging to God, then we have the awesome benefit of genuine confidence in Him. While in the midst of turmoil or difficulty, we are not swayed or dismayed, but rather we can stand strong on the promises we have received of our Lord. We can speak with the confidence of Paul and declare: I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. Why? Because I belong to God. 

I Don’t Have the Time

How many times have we been guilty of saying, “I don’t have the time” when asked to do something for the Kingdom of God? Usually we’re sincere, but I wonder if it’s always factual? Is it true that I simply have too many things scheduled? Or, is it truer that I have placed other things in a greater priority and therefore do not have the time to do more for God? Could it be that this statement, “I don’t have the time”, has become an easy excuse not to commit to the service of the Lord? Who’s going to challenge me on the statement? Who is going to follow me around all day to validate my schedule? Only the individual genuinely knows how busy he is. In Scripture, we are challenged to make the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:16 NIV). To find the truth, self-examination is the only course.

When considering the subject of time, it is good to remember that God established and respects time (Gen 1:14, Eccl 3:1). In fact, the Scripture has plenty to say about time. There are over seven hundred references to time in the King James Version and nearly one thousand references in the New International Version. Just under one hundred times “hour” is referenced: fifteen in Daniel and Revelation, eleven in Acts, and sixty-seven in the Gospels. Seeing that two-thirds of the New Testament references to ‘hour’ are in the Gospels, evidently, Jesus was concerned about the time. We should be too.

 

In addition to Paul’s challenge to make the most of every opportunity, Solomon wrote that a wise man discerns both time and judgment (Eccl 8:5, KJV). A wise man knows the appropriate time, and places great value upon his time. He does this because he recognizes that the exact amount of time he has on this Earth is unknown. Job poses these questions: Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? (Job 7:1, KJV). To fully grasp the meaning, it’s best to understand the work of a hireling. A hireling is employed until the job is complete, not necessarily for a specific amount of time; much like we would hire a contractor today. We hire him to put on a roof, mow the lawn, or install carpeting, regardless of how long the job takes. Likewise, according to Job, our very lives are given as an amount of time to “get the job done”, not as a definite number of years. Knowing this begs the question: what is the job that I am to complete? Rick Warren posits that “You have just enough time to do God’s will.” God’s will is both general and specific. Not everyone is directed to be a Sunday School teacher, however all are called to be baptized in Jesus’ name. While each individual’s God-ordained path is different, the general tasks are the same. The primary task of every man is to establish his eternal destination. Thus, all men are given enough time to choose between Heaven and Hell. Time must be used wisely.

 

When considering personal time management, it’s good to view time in a possessive sense. In Matthew 26:18 (KJV), Jesus said, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples.” He spoke of time as being in His possession; He said my time. He was aware of a specific point in time that was of particular importance to Him. He had a certain assignment, a specific time to begin the project, and an allotted amount of time to get the job finished. It was His time. When we think of time in this fashion, it signifies accepting our responsibility for personal management of that time.

 

Having accepted the value of time and my responsibility to manage it, an initial question to ask is, “How am I using my time?” With the given amount of time that I have, what tasks get the most of it? It has been said that you can tell a man’s beliefs by how he spends his money and his time. If that’s the case, in what do I believe?

 

Jesus rebuked men because they could predict the weather tomorrow, but they couldn’t notice the value of His being with them on the Earth (Luke 12:56, KJV). Paul criticized the Athenians because they spent their time talking only about news events (Acts 17:21, KJV). In both cases, the point is being made that men were not using their time wisely. How much time do we spend talking about “some new thing”? There always seems to be some new tidbit of gossip, some new fashion statement, or a hot technological item. If we are not careful, we too could spend all of our time simply discussing new things.  Paul commanded the Romans to wake up (Romans 13:11, KJV). In terms of spiritual endeavors, they were not at all in tune with the times. Evidently the human capacity to get priorities out of order is not a new one. Time is a personal commodity, therefore the things that matter throughout eternity had better get the most of our time.

 

In order to accomplish this, there are some basic principles that work very effectively to keep us on track. The first is simply to prioritize according to eternity. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Mat 6:33, KJV). Our daily activities need to be placed in order of importance based on God’s word and prayer. We look at our schedules and determine what is going to matter for eternity. When the day is done, how much have I accomplished to further the Kingdom of God?

 

The second principle is to schedule my time according to Godly priorities. It’s basic, yet often overlooked. Scheduling is a Biblical concept. We find the Lord often speaking of various appointments that he set and kept (Exo 9:5, Dan 11:29, Hab 2:3, Gal 4:2, Psa 102:13). If God makes and keeps appointments, then undoubtedly we can do the same. Set a schedule and stick to it.   

 

Another basic principle is to budget my time according to reality. How much time should I allow for each activity in my schedule? Important tasks lose out when we do not correctly gauge how long a particular activity will take. Will it take me thirty minutes or one hour to buy groceries? Does it take twenty or thirty minutes to get to church? Throughout Scripture, we notice specific time frames attached to appointments and schedules (Exo 23:15, Sam 13:8, 2 Sam 24:15, Est 9:27). Perhaps Nehemiah sets the best example: And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time (Neh 2:6, KJV). In everyday practice, it’s best to allow more time per event than necessary and end the day with time to spare, rather than to allow too little time, and end up not accomplishing that which we set out to do. It’s best to budget time according to reality.

 

However, as some may already be thinking, there are some things that cannot and will not be scheduled. Birth (Gen 18:14), Sin (Deu 32:35), Blessing (1 Pet 5:6), Death (Gen 38:12), and Trouble (Psa 27:5) are just some of the things noted in Scripture that typically aren’t scheduled exactly. The same is true for certain things in our lives. When we realize and accept the fact that there will be things that we cannot control, then we save ourselves from much frustration. We should do all that we can to redeem our time, and then accept the things that we simply can not control.

 

For many of us, regardless of how well we adhere to these timely principles, we can experience times when we have a real shortage of time. When this happens, remember that God is not limited to time. In 2 Kings chapter twenty, God signaled his answer to Hezekiah by turning time back ten degrees. In Joshua chapter ten, God stopped the sun and the moon so that the armies of Israel would have sufficient time to win their battle. Concerning God’s perspective on time, Peter wrote; But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Pet 3:8, KJV). God is not limited to time! Further, we are promised “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7, KJV). Thus, when we are in a bind and have done our part, we can go to the Lord and ask Him to help us to be more efficient and to accomplish all that we need to do for His Kingdom.

 

Time is in our hands. There is so much yet to be accomplished for God in our world. When we keep these two facts in the forefront of our minds, we are compelled to use practical tools to make sure we are using our time wisely. Doing this on a daily basis is definitely preferred to telling Our Savior, “I didn’t have the time”. 

It’s All about Me

I first noticed her as she was unloading her luggage from the car. She had barely started to lift a suitcase when three guys nearly tore it out of her hands trying to help her. When she finally stepped on to the bus, I knew why. She was drop-dead gorgeous. As she made her way down the aisle alone, there was no question in my mind that she was the most beautiful girl that I had ever seen. I can’t say that it was the color of her hair, the shape of her face, the way that she walked, or her style of clothes that made her look so incredible. Maybe it was all of them put together. Who knows? In fact, who cares? Regardless of why she looked that way, the fact remained: she was stunning.

Our group was leaving this Friday morning for a unique trip. Early in January, Webster Groves High School began to advertise a different sort of Spring Break get-a-way. While we would get to see some interesting places and sites along the East Coast, the emphasis of the trip would be on helping others. Over the course of eight days and five cities we would hand out toiletry items to the homeless, prepare and serve lunches in three soup kitchens, spend two days in activities at senior centers, and put the finishing coats of paint on a Habitat for Humanity home. And these were just the main service projects. Our head chaperone, Mr. ReLeaf, Chemistry teacher and Christian Fellowship sponsor, had assured us that there would be additional opportunities to offer our support to those in need.

At this point, I was in need of a way to keep from staring. As any red-blooded American teen, I was certain that I knew the name of every beautiful girl at my high school. It’s not like I was ever going to do anything with that information, but as one man said, “I have a dream”. And that’s all that knowing these names would likely be for me. I might learn a little about them, possibly sit near enough in a class or two to strike up some conversation, and maybe even begin a friendship with some of them. But to actually end up on a date with one, or call one my girlfriend would only be a dream. They were just out of my league.

It wasn’t long into the bus ride that the progression of the brave began. When she first walked onto the bus, many of the girls and a few of the guys said hello and introduced themselves. Then each of the girls spent a few moments chatting her up. As time wore on, the self-confident young men began to make further advances toward her. This was territory for those guys with all the skills, all the talent, and personality to spare. These brave few would dare to go where others feared to tread. And each of them made his best attempt.

One by one, my classmates and friends worked their way from his seat on the bus to where this wonderful young lady was sitting. I watched in admiration as they did their best to appear calm and with-it. I watched as each one did all he could to win her attention, to gain a time advantage over the others. Yet, none was able to keep her conversation for more than a few moments. This continual parade of willing lambs continued for the first few days of the trip. Then an interesting thing happened. With each passing day, fewer guys were showing their interest in her. They seemed to be less impressed with her unique beauty.

I too had begun to realize some things about her that I hadn’t noticed before. During our stops for lunch and dinner, she never seemed to like the chosen restaurant. In fact, even if she approved of the restaurant previously, once we arrived she would speak poorly of the service she received or of the way the food was prepared. Maybe she was just a picky eater.

When we stopped at the hotel for our first night’s stay, she made a loud sigh when someone called out “Holiday Inn”. She said something about preferring that hotel that serves the warm chocolate-chip cookies at check-in. Once inside, though she never said anything, she seemed to be perturbed that she would be sharing a room with one or even two other girls. Evidently this too was not the preferred method of travel for her. But hey, maybe she was just tired after a long day of travel.

Then again, maybe that wasn’t the problem. When we were handing out the bags of items to the homeless, she insisted on rubbing her hands with disinfectant every few minutes, and in plain view of the recipients. At the soup kitchens, she complained about the smell of the food and the length of time it took to serve all of those who came to eat. While in the senior centers, she barely said a word to the residents, and wrinkled her nose at the slightest hint of an unusual smell. Then at the Habitat House, forget the thought of her actually painting. She stood at a distance and boldly proclaimed all of the decorating ideas that she would bestow on this home if given the chance. And these are just the items that I remember. Since we’ve returned, others have mentioned some statements that they overheard her saying. To this point, no one remembers hearing her say a kind word during the entire trip. Maybe she was just struggling to adapt to her new school acquaintances.

As the bus made its way back into the school parking lot early Saturday morning, all of us were groggy from the lengthy trip. Yet at the sound of the air brakes, everyone began to stir, grab their travel items, and make their way to the side of the bus to retrieve their luggage. Many were mumbling to one another and smiling, sharing thoughts from the journey. Most were helping each other with their bags. Quite a few guys were shaking hands, slapping each other on the back, and generally noting friendly goodbyes. The girls were having their usual hug-fest. In the course of helping a wide variety of needy people, we had learned a great deal about ourselves. Except for the new girl.

Visually, she was still quite appealing. And yet she was leaving the bus alone. Not one guy was racing to carry her luggage. Few of the girls even noticed her exit; none invited her into the hug huddle. Lacking the interest and acceptance of her peers, she made her way back to her car alone. Somehow while attending a trip designed to reach out to others, she was leaving unaffected. I began to feel sorry for her.

Then I saw it: on the back of her car, just below the trunk. It was just one bumper sticker, but it seemed to say it all. It was yellow with black letters, and it simply said: It’s All about Me.

Then I really felt sorry for her. She was evidently living her life according to that false phrase, and the one she was hurting the most by living this error was herself. It was at that point that I determined to join the ranks of the brave. With the help of the Lord, I would approach this very pretty girl. Not to win her affection, but to somehow explain to her that life is not all about me; rather, life is all about Him.

Then He (Jesus) said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?” (Luke 9:23-25, NKJV).