A couple of months ago, I read 4 books by two different authors that have the tendency to be life-changing books. I am in no means putting them on the same level as the ultimate life-changing book, The Bible, but it is possible for other books to be life-changing.
Two of those books, written by David Platt, are majorly convicting books I think all Christians should read: Follow Me, and Radical. Both books stirred a longing in me to truly follow God and be all out for Him, and not have a shallow profession where I seek my own desires than His will. To be willing to be used by Him and truly deny myself.
These books tell stories of people who don't sit around and wait for people who are "called" of God to go out and reach people for God. These people believe that we are all called, and we need to take some initiative, and they have taken it. Some have gone into the ghettos and set up Bible studies. Just in one church, over 100 familes - I think 150 - either adopted or fostered kids who needed a family, and not just to give kids a home, but to reach them for God.
I count myself in with this statement, so if it sounds harsh, I have 4 fingers pointing back at me: Too many Christians are willing to serve God, even give up some things that the world does, as long as they aren't too inconvenienced..... as long as they have time to do what they want and when they want....... and therein may lie the one thing we don't want to give to God: time. We are happy to toss money in the offering plate for the missionary offering, just don't expect us to do anything that will require us using our time for someone other than us.
My church has an offering they take yearly, I forget when, but it is called the "self denial offering." Good idea it would seem. The idea is to give money for whatever it goes for, that you want to use for something else. You are denying yourself of something and can go home smug that you denied yourself and took up your cross........
But here's an idea: How willing would people be to give time? Instead of putting money in the offering plate, put slips of paper with hours of time to be used for God...... whether it be doing some menial job around the church, visiting shut-ins, taking someone out to eat that may be discouraged..... the possibilities are endless. But are we willing to do that?
I had a job at church a few years ago that I didn't enjoy. Our church has two sets of books that we get credit for people reading. There are about 3-4 books and one book of the Bible for each. I was in charge of one set of books. I had to keep track of them, and try to get people to read them. I got so tired of hearing "sorry, I don't have time." I'd think "baloney!" I'd rant to my family about it. "I bet anything if we invited so-and-so over for pizza and games Friday night, they'd have time for that, but no time to read a book?!" At least I am honest about it.... I just tell them when asked that I don't want to...... :-)
Our churches have many hurting people, but not many people will take the time to reach out.... it would take effort and time, so they throw a little extra money in the offering and pat themselves on the back. And meanwhile, their brother or sister across the aisle is wishing someone had the time to ask them how they are doing, and really care about the answer.
Part of the problem is we are spoiled here in America. We have it way too easy. We have our schedule, the things we want to do, and we don't want that disrupted, but I am becoming more and more convinced that if we truly sell out to God and quit playing church, and quit playing Christians, it is going to disrupt our lives.
And time is just one area we don't deny ourselves enough in. Its all of life. We have lost our vision, our purpose. It isn't to just make it to Heaven...... if that is all our Christian life is about, we have truly become most selfish and narcissistic in our very service to God. We are to spread the Gospel, reach out to people and win them to God. That will take time. That will disrupt our schedule and maybe our very lives. It may be messy and often involve sacrifice on our part..... but if we are simply going to church, raising our families, and making a living......what good are we? If the church is just a place to go and show up to let people know we are still a Christian, but we aren't reaching out to hurting people, winning new people to the church...... what good are we?
Christianity is more than a check list of things we do to feel we are doing all we need to do to please God: pray, read our Bible, go to church, and the list goes on. Nothing that costs us anything, but only things that let us coast along in life.
There is a passage of Scripture that we tend to breeze past and not make much of, but it seems to be one we should all spend more time thinking on, praying on, and letting it affect our actions. Matthew 25:35-45:
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' 37 "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' 40 And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' 41 "Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons! 42 For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.' 44 "Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' 45 And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.' (NLT)
It sounds like we are going to be judged for what we did to help the hurting....but if we can't help the hurting in our own congregation, how can we ever manage to help those outside of the church, and it sounds like it is pretty important to God that we do so.
I have a friend who shall remain nameless, who does not go to my church. He deals with an issue that is very difficult to deal with, and has been open about it. He has mentioned to me on more than one occasion how he wishes people in his church would do more to help and encourage him. I try to make excuses that people are busy, and yes they are, but if we are too busy to be about God's work, whether it be taking time out for someone in our own church, the next door neighbor, or anyone else God might bring across our path..... we are too busy.
Jesus was all about people. He went around healing and helping people. Thank God He wasn't too busy..... and we are to be like Him, but how much are we? If we can't make time to reach out to people, to help them, point them to Christ.....how much like Christ can we be? Which message will we hear from the above Scriptures?
I know there are exceptions to every case, and that there are people who do more than their share, and like I said, I put myself in the category of not doing enough. How many of us would dare ask God to bring someone across our path to help? Or are we afraid to do so. Are we too busy to handle what God might bring our way......
Back around 1999 or 2000, I took what was a bold step for me. I enrolled in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program. I didn't necessarily do it for religious reasons. I did it because I wanted to be there for some boy who didn't have a dad. I am not an egotist. I had no grand ideas of majorly changing some kid's life. I just wanted to be there for one. And I was. For four years, I did what may be the most unselfish thing in my life. I spent time at least once a week with a 12-year old boy who grew to be a 16-year old young man when I left the program. That kid is now a 25-year old man, who has turned out to be a great man.
It involved sacrifice. I had to promise to spend at least a few hours one day a week with him, so I had to set aside time. It cost me money.... against his mother's wishes. I'd take him out to eat and she'd try to pay me back. Over and over, I can still hear her "I just want someone to spend time with my son. I don't expect you to spend money!" And I'd stick the money she gave me under a lamp and leave.
It involved discomfort. Unless you know me well, you cannot understand how much I loathe sports. Jason was into basketball and track at school, so me, the sports hater, went to some of his games and track meets. Did I enjoy it? Not really, though it felt good to be there for him, but did I feel comfortable in a setting where guys were playing sports..... something that caused me no end of trouble in school? No, but I loved the kid and wanted him to know I cared, so I went and sat in a high school gym and cheered for the skinny kid down on the gym floor.
And don't get me wrong. I don't regret any of it. I'd do it all over again. I enjoyed spending money on him, whether it be eating out, mini golf, a play, or other things we did that cost money. I don't even regret going to his basketball games. The point I am trying to make, is it cost me something in my efforts to be there for a young boy, to let him know he mattered to me. And not long ago, I got my "reward". His mom said right on Facebook for the world to see that she credited me with his turning out so well. I cried. Well, I am almost crying now.
That may not sound like a major thing to you, but that's what its all about. Being there for someone. Spending time and maybe money. Getting out of our comfort zone, putting aside what we want to do and doing something for someone else.
Its time to quit playing church and playing Christian, and time to quit with the busy excuse and start reaching people. It sounds harsh, but I for one am tired of it being all about me. I want to do more, be more, to let God use me to help someone else in any way my insecure little self can. When we do, when we love others outside of our family and cliché....... when it costs us something to reach out to others, that is when we will actually start to be like Jesus.
