If Jesus came back today what would His priorities be? If He
wanted to build His church would He first go out and find a nice piece of
property? One that could support a large building, spacious parking, a large
church campus…or would He feed people? Would He next contract out construction
crews to build a beautiful new worship center, or would He Himself go out
into the community and love on people? Would He order up furniture and
garments, commission great works of art, purchase chalices and marble altars,
or would He go seek those that need to be consoled, encouraged, and healed?
I look sometimes at what the ‘churches’ say is their grand commission, and
where they apply their resources, and I shake my head. Yet the misguided will
continue in their ways and defend to the death their support of these
institutions. When I get to heaven and see Jesus face to face, I am sure I will
recall His words when He said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you:
Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By
this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The words ‘build big buildings’, (or barns as in Luke 12), ‘buy more property’,
‘commission great art’, etc. will never be heard in heaven. “Well done good and
faithful servant”, will not refer to huge church campuses, but to the
admonition to “feed my sheep”. People settle into a comfort zone based on where
they are in life, what they have been taught, and what others around them do.
It is when they break out of the little box into which life and society have
placed them, when they take that risk, take that first step to living a
life of meaning, that true, pure and honest joy and self-fulfillment settle
over them. When was the last time we did anything differently than we did
yesterday, last week, last month? Do we continue on our path solely to reach
the end of the journey? And then what, then we say ‘Oh, I wish I would have
done that when I was younger!” I remember reading a book about the life of Keith
Green years ago. His life seemed so frenetic to me, and then he died in a plane
crash at a young age. I kept thinking that all along God must have been telling
him to relax a little, slow down. He had such a passion for God and people but
it seemed like he was just going to wear himself out trying to accomplish so
much. Years later I can look back and laugh at my naivety. Where is he today?
Was he living his commission? Did he get to hear those so desired words when he
got to heaven? We look at others sometimes and think that somehow they are
different than us; that we could never hope to accomplish as much as they.
Maybe we don’t have the same talents as others or the same resources, but we do
have talents and resources of our own. We are all beautifully and wonderfully
made. We are God’s kids. Everyone has the ability to make a difference; just
not everyone has the desire to make a difference. I don’t think I have ever met
anyone that stepped out of their comfort zone to serve others that hasn’t
benefitted from the experience in some way. Whether that experience has helped
the one seeking assistance, or has helped us and our perception of life and
love, good things come from loving others. You may not now and you may not ever
be able to change the way your particular church functions, but by maintaining
your own personal status quo, if that is a life of not getting involved, (which
for many, many years was my life), you sell yourself short. We all need to step
out. Whether it starts as volunteering to serve meals at a homeless shelter,
sponsoring a child, volunteering at a school to help mentor a young child,
serving as a Big Brother/Sister; you need not start out in some big role, take
the first step, ask God for some direction for your steps, and proceed, continue
to pray and let Him lead you, but take the step. Not only will you be loving,
but you’ll be growing - growing in care, concern and empathy for others; yet
also growing your own sense of self-worth and developing an inner peace and joy
you have never felt before. Let’s all keep our eyes open for opportunities to
serve, and be strong and bold enough to take that first small baby step!
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