If you don’t use it, you lose it

Then they said: there are only 7 musical notes in the scale, but look at what Beethoven, Mozart and many others (yes, even Elvis and Johnny Cash) have done with those seven.  (Personally I don't think we can consider our current brand of rock music because it seems to me that they only use a couple of the notes over & over).

 

The third thing mentioned is: there are only 10 numbers, but look at what great entrepreneurs have done with those ten.  And not only them, but scientists and mathematicians too.  Example: atomic energy.

 

The point that I believe the author of the above three things was getting at is, for us to look at how we've been able to use the things that God has provided to mankind.  How a small number of things can be tremendously enlarged on.  I'm going to liken these 3 things to the parable told by Jesus that's generally known as the Parable of the Talents.  Please read this parable in Matt. 25:16-30.

 

Briefly, in this story told by Christ, that relates to the "kingdom of heaven (the church) is like," He talks about various employees being given a varied amount of money (talents) to use while the "master" is away for a period of time.  In our lesson today I'm equating the "talents" to abilities.

 

The actual details as to how much or how many "talents" are involved in the story is unimportant as far as the meaning of the story.  What is important is how they were used, or not used.  I'm going to apply the principle of Jesus' story about the "talents" to helping us see the spread of the Church, the kingdom, throughout the whole world and I'm going to use the principle seen in our aforementioned 3 interesting things.

 

 

There were only 12 Apostles on the Day of Pentecost , yet through their teaching and preaching they saved "about 3000 souls" that very day.  (Acts 2:41)   That effort began the spread of "the kingdom" throughout the world as those who had been "added to the church" went about "adding" others on a daily basis.  And, it hasn't stopped yet, nor will it cease until time ends and the "kingdom" is called home.

 

Now, let's return to the parable for a few thoughts and here are mine.  We all have varied amounts of ability.  Some, like the parable, more than others and with the understanding that, if given a lot, a lot in return will be expected. 

 

And here again, as in the lesson of the parable, the amount IS NOT the important factor.  How we use whatever amount of ability we have IS the important part.  This is the principle I see as being brought out by this parable.  That we use whatever ability we've been blessed with to increase the "Master's" business. 

 

When you read the parable you'll notice something I mentioned earlier.  That some had been given more than others.  However, one who had only been given a small amount, failed to produce anything with that "talent."  Instead, he "hid" it and when called for an accounting offered up, in today's vernacular, a lame excuse.  Let's look for a moment at that excuse.

 

Let me just cite his words here: "Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.  So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground.  Here you have what is yours."  (Verses 24-26)   The account goes on to say that he was punished severely for the non-use of his "talent."

 

You know, by man's way of thinking, he might be seen as being prudent or wise to not have invested his master's money, thereby being able to return it when the master came back.  But, that's not the true picture shown by the Master's statement regarding his saving of the "talent."  It wasn't "saved."  It was not used.  There's a big difference.

 

That difference can be seen when we understand that the "Master" in the story is God.  The "talents" are His gifts, through His grace, of the natural abilities given to all His servants with the expressed thought that they are to be used for, and to, the glory of the "Master." 

 

Think of it this way: a rich man, a "Master" provides monies (abilities) to his employees (servants) with the expectation that they produce an increase for him.  Just as God expects His "kingdom" to increase by the use of the abilities He bestows on His servants - Us! 

 

 

There is an old saying that I've always found to be true in all situations.  That old saying is: "If you don't use it, you lose it."  And, like the non-user in the parable, the end result of neglecting our God-given amount of ability can only be described as disastrous to usward.  Most definitely pointed out by the "Master's" pronouncement of judgment on the non-user is that to "bury" our God-given ability is a sin and will be recognized as such.

 

Ron Covey

Examples of a paradox

It is a true paradox. Today,  I've been married longer than I have ever been.  I've been a father longer than I have ever been.  The same is true for me as a Christian, a preacher, and every other relationship I am in.  My experience in all of these has never been greater than it is right now.  Yet, as I examine things, I realize just how much I do not know.  I am not saying that truth is unknowable, for such a statement would be false and contradictory to what God affirms in Scripture (John 8:32; Eph. 1:18; 1 Tim. 3:15; etc.).  It is just that I realize how little I understand compared to what needs to be understood, that I find the challenge of putting truth into practice in every situation requiring wisdom and understanding as daunting as I ever have.  Yet, despite such a realization, my optimism has never been greater.  Why?  Because I have never believed more strongly in the power and wisdom of God, nor have I ever depended more on Him for strength and provision where I am lacking than I do today.  I feel smaller, but He seems bigger.  While the walk on the narrow way seems a steeper, more strenuous, incline each day and the challenges to faith more daunting, more than proportionate to this is my realization that God "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" (Eph. 3:20). My conviction about what the Bible says has never been stronger. My belief in God's existence, involvement, concern, and righteousness has never been more than this moment.  Yet, my awareness of my finiteness and limitations, the transiency of this life, and the ferocity of the adversary is acute.  Incredibly, this doesn't cause me to despair. It causes me to hope. It takes the focus off me and puts it where it belongs-on Him! He is able to establish me through His Word (Rom. 16:25). He is "able to make all grace abound to" me, that I, "having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Cor. 9:8).  The most important thing for me to know, every day in every challenge and responsibility, is that God is able (Rom. 14:4; Phil. 3:21; 2 Tim. 1:12; Heb. 2:18).

Don't misunderstand me. I am not despairing. I am not even frustrated. I am hopeful and excited.  One of the greatest promises of Scripture is, "But He gives more grace" (Jas. 4:6). He will walk with me through the darkest valleys (Psa. 23:4). As He holds my hand and guides me through His word and His providence, He also points me toward His house.  He tells me He will help me get home and when the narrow way becomes too steep or arduous for me to walk alone, He will carry me in His everlasting arms (cf. Deu. 32:7). I will keep studying His inspired guidebook and striving to apply it to my life.  And as I do, I will increase my dependence and reliance upon Him, confident that "He who has begun a good work in [me] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).  That's really all I need to know!

 

Neal Pollard

 

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Church attendance

A Positive Article on Church Attendance

“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”

Dwight L. Moody

 

For many years I have clipped and filed various articles from church bulletins, magazines, and printed off e-mails on a wide variety of topics.  I have accumulated numerous file cabinets packed with files on just about any topic you can imagine. These have been invaluable to me over the years in my ministry in counseling and personal study as well as sermon and class preparation. 

One thing I have noticed over the years is that my file on “church attendance” has countless articles spanning 30 years, but there are very few positive ones in the file. 

Most begin with guilt or a sarcastic comparison to our attendance at work or sporting events and then a threat of eternal damnation and then a pointed exposition of the first half of Hebrews 10:25.

I’d like to offer another approach: 

While it is true that some folks attend worship out of: guilt, pressure, habit, tradition, or for the social aspects there is a growing group of folks that see the gathering of the saints for what God intended it to be. 

If you broaden your scope past the “not forsaking the assembly” part of Hebrews 10:24-25 you glean a better understanding of why we need to be together.  In verse 24 we are challenged to “stir up one another to love and good works” and in verse 25 we are called to “encourage one another.”  If you aren’t present, you miss out on that part. 

When the church meets it is a chance to share our lives together as we worship an omniscient God.  We get to pray, sing, commune, and give as a family.  We get to hear the Word of God taught, explained and applied to our present context.  We are made aware of the needs of our forever family members and we get the opportunity to meet needs as they arise.

The early church Luke described in Acts chapter 2:  devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship to breaking of bread and the prayers (v. 42),  sold their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need (v. 45),  attended the temple together and broke bread in their homes (v. 46), received their food with glad and generous hearts (V. 46), and praised God and had favor with all the people (v. 47).  With that mindset and outlook it is no wonder the early church grew.  They loved being together and their attitude and lifestyle was attractive and contagious. 

When you read through Acts and get a sense of the spirit working through the early church you pick up on the fact that they didn’t HAVE TO go to church; they GOT TO go to church. 

That’s my approach.  I come to worship to be with my forever family and to get and give hugs from folks who I have grown to love as we share a common mission and vision.  I am encouraged through the prayers and the singing of my brothers and sisters in Christ and I am humbled to have the honor of standing on the stage week after week presenting a message from God’s Word that always encourages and challenges me as well as the hearers.

No, I don’t HAVE TO worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ  I GET TO ...and I hate to miss it. 

So rather than “brow beat” or resort to guilt or preach attendance sermons to those who are actually in attendance my prayer is that folks will participate in worship with a sense of eager anticipation and grateful wonder. 

—Kent Jobe

 

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Earnestly contend for the faith

Proper and Improper Controversy

 

We should all recognize that a certain bit of controversy is inevitable if there is to be growth and if the church is to be kept pure. Faithful servants of the Lord are to go out into an unbelieving world and earnestly contend for the faith. Reproving and rebuking are in order when error in practice or in doctrine appear. Christ and the apostles fought a good fight. They were worthy controversialists. They abhorred sin and opposed it, and so should we.

The church at Jerusalem was not destroyed when there was “much disputing” over the necessity of the Gentiles keeping the Jewish ordinances (Acts 15:7). Brethren then studied and taught calmly and avoided bitterness, so the serious question was resolved and unity that pleased the apostles and the whole church prevailed (Acts 15:22). Brethren, we should be able to differ without anger and malice as we study topics about which there are differences in understanding.

Avoiding foolish and unlearned questions would do much to avoid the envy and strife and the useless and improper controversy. This requires skill in discernment to separate truth from the error, and there should be special concern for the humble babe in Christ who does not understand.

It is a very significant danger signal when brethren begin to object to all study of subjects about which there is controversy. Truth can be tried in the fire of debate, but error thrives under the wet blanket of “no controversy allowed.” Heresy is brought in “privily” (2 Peter 2:1). Let some vigilant elder or preacher cry aloud when some perverse doctrine or practice is slipping into the family. Let us pray that we may come to learn by studying topics which are not understood by all rather than developing factions with closed minds and bitterness. There will, of course, always be different levels of understanding between the babes in Christ and the well taught giants among us. The “great plainness of speech” is used to help (2 Cor. 3:12). Please do not object to that which is necessary to the spiritual well-being of the church.

- by Irven Lee