Thoughts
Worth Thinking
It’s About
Saving Souls!
Hind sight may be “20-20” but it isn’t
able to change the present! “I wish I had …” does nothing more than admit to
regret of some decision (or the lack thereof) in the past. The bible student
realizes the peril in “looking back” (Lk. 17:32) and the determination afforded
us by looking forward (Phil. 3:13 – 14; Heb. 12: 1 – 2). Sure we ponder the
“what if’s” of life – but to what profit? Thus, the wise sets his eyes on the
prize – and moves not to the right hand or to the left (ex. Deut. 5:32; Col. 3:1-5).
Since
obeying the gospel, preaching has always been the priority of my life’s work.
It was not intended to be my “exclusive” work, but as providence provided, it
obviously became my life’s work. Yes, in
order to properly provide for my family, I’ve engaged lots of secular jobs; and
yet engage them as opportunity provides – but NEVER to the exclusion of the
priority of preaching the gospel! Further, I’ve never worked at a secular
employ without the employer knowing first and foremost, “I am a preacher of the
gospel.” Such an admission has at times limited advancements in that secular
work, but never has it been rebuked or been a reason for punishment. It is
simply because I refused to compromise the preaching of the gospel that
advancements in secular work did not always arrive: I put the
Please do
not think that last as “brag;” it is in fact explanation. The same scenario is
true of many gospel preachers. Many of us have sacrificed very lucrative
careers in various occupations in order to pursue the greater challenge:
PREACHING CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED. (1 Cor. 2:3) Additionally, many of us have sacrificed
greater comforts and securities of this time world (and such sacrifices have in
turn caused our families to do without as well) that many others take for
granted. “Retirement” is not a part of our vocabulary unless we’re talking
about your retirement. And many of us relate, “Our insurance is out of this
world,” as we simply don’t want to admit the absence of insurance in this
physical life. “Then why preach?” is the honest question asked by those who
don’t fully grasp our work’s demand. The answer is a resounding, “IT’S ABOUT
SAVING SOULS!”
When any
Christian seriously contemplates what convinced him/her to obey the gospel, the
answer is, “the preaching of the gospel.” Paul so described this wondrous power
(Rom. 1:16 – 17; 1 Cor. 1:18; 24), and declared it must be preached (2 Tim.
4:2). By the same inspiration, we learn God recognizes preachers in a very
loving fashion (Rom. 10:15). Those who preach the gospel, learn to live of the
gospel (1 Cor. 9:14), but also learn contentment within this life (Phil. 4:11).
Frankly, we learn it isn’t about “how many and how much” as the world may
determine success: IT IS ABOUT SAVING SOULS!
When
preachers consider the magnificence of the many extremely skilled occupations
(each within their own realm of studied expertise) they ponder why some
consider their work as “less than professional” in the realm of critically
skilled and responsible labor. Granted, most of us could not do what many of
our brethren do as their chosen livelihood: and we admit there may be those
among our brethren who could do our work better than we do. But such
considerations still do not change the REASON of our work, and the immeasurable
responsibility connected with it: IT’S ABOUT SAVING SOULS! There simply is
nothing of greater importance, greater responsibility, or of greater reward (2
Tim. 4:7 – 8).
Just as
Jesus found some desired Him for what He DID rather than what He SAID, and much
less for who He WAS (John 6:66), preachers often
receive the same consideration. Similar to coaches with losing seasons,
preachers are often “asked to leave” when “the numbers aren’t glowing with
success.” When it happens, preachers and their families uproot again and move –
usually because they couldn’t move the brethren (in a completely different
sense of “move.”) Like so many others,
even brethren have a hard time considering preaching isn’t about being the
“hired hand” of the church – IT’S ABOUT SAVING SOULS!
It appeared
some thirty years ago, preachers were abundant, and young men desiring that
work were plentiful. Sadly, that is not the case in present day. Many “veteran”
preachers are forced to seek other employment, and devote more time to that
necessity than to the saving of souls. Young men are frightened away from the
work when they, as young Christians, often see the conflicts between brethren,
and its inflicted harm spiritually and temporally. When full consideration of
this reality comes to fruition, the reason is sadder still: some brethren have
forgotten that preaching is ABOUT SAVING SOULS – never has it been about
“pleasing the brethren.” (2 Tim.4:1-4).
Like Paul, we
preachers develop the conviction, “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.”
(1 Cor.9:16) We realize how needful it is to take the gospel
into all the world (Matt.28:19-20), and that our “world” begins with where we
are (Phil.1: 12 – 30). We know not all will listen, much less learn and obey.
We know some will depart from the faith they once professed (2 Tim. 4:10.)
Still, we recognize the greater good: that of preaching the very thing, yea,
the ONLY thing that will save man from sin. Yes, in spite of all the negatives,
the positives far outweigh them: IT IS ABOUT THE SAVING OF SOULS … including
yours, dear reader!
Mike’s Musings ….
On god’s time
The month of February in this area has evidenced winter’s beauty! Record
snowfall and low temperatures have been the exceptional “norm.” Even as I
write, snow flurries blow, and the weatherman says “possible accumulation.” In
the same newscast, the weatherman asked rhetorically, “Will we ever see spring
come?”
God’s promise says, “Yes,” (Gen. 8:22), but on HIS time! (Eccl. 3:11)
While many may complain about the weather, no one can change it: no one can
send it back! God’s been controlling it for long enough, it’s certain He knows
what He’s doing. The “treasures in the snow” (Job 38:22) are tremendous for the
agriculture, atmosphere, and even our physical health! Spring comes on God’s
time! Be patient!
It seems strange to see man in such a “hurry” with nearly everything he
does. We hurry to get to work, hurry through the day, hurry eating, hurry
worship services (did I say that? Yep, guess I did!) … hurry
in nearly everything. But there’s some things that
just don’t need to be hurried! The slower some things are the better – like slow
roasted beef, or the flow of gasoline from the gas tank!
The more serious side of this is how hurried we are in our praise,
thanks and study of God! Worship services are designed for a “set time” – we
need to get home for something else. We’re so afraid of being accused of
“praying to be heard of men” that we hurry our prayers into “prayerettes.” Many preachers are afraid of offending
brethren with “long windedness” and so reduce sermons to “sermonettes.”
Why? Is the time we give to God more ours than His? Who permitted that occasion
in the first place?
There are times when Jesus spent all night praying or doing some other
work. (We won’t consider the 40 days and nights in the wilderness – we need to
hurry this article!) Paul preached until
mid-night, raised Eutychus, and then continued his
preaching till break of day! There is evidence that brethren were commanded to
NOT get in a hurry (ex. 1 Cor.11:33). There simply is NO evidence that our time
in worship to God (including song, prayer, communion, and study) should be
hurried!
Maybe that’s reason for God to “slow us down” with the recent winter
challenges. At least it’s worth musing. We need to take more time to THINK
(Phil. 4:8) and you just can’t get that done correctly when you’re hurrying.
Let’s be more on GOD’S TIME!