Some
Personal Contributions
Dee Bowman
Just the mention of
contributions conjures up the business of making a financial donation of
some sort. The Christian will likely think about his obligation to make a
weekly contribution to the work of the Lord (I Cor. 16:1-2). Those kinds
of contributions are certainly necessary and, in the case of the latter,
commanded. But there are some contributions that while they are not
financial, are as necessary and are likewise commanded.
The contribution of a
concerned heart. A lack of concern plagues the cause of Christ today.
The reason? Disinterested people. Truth can fall into the streets amid the
rubble of humanism, materialism, nihilism, human philosophy and people
walk by unconcerned. Fellowship is breached, brotherly love crucified on
the altar of individual rights and people see no reason for alarm. Souls
in jeopardy look out from sunken eyes and hurting hearts asking for a kind
word and a helping gospel and people, rather than showing pathos, turn
away, repulsed by the sight.
This lack of concern is
reflected in the distaste for evangelistic endeavor. Lost souls are
everywhere and people choose not to get involved. When Jesus saw the
multitudes in their lost condition, like sheep gone astray, the narrative
says “he was moved with compassion” (Matt. 9:36-37). No matter that
they may not have realized they were lost; He did. Paul said of his own
lost countrymen, “I have great heaviness and continual sorry in my heart”
(Rom. 9:-13). They might not admit to being lost; but he knew and cared.
Why is there no such concern, no such compassion among brethren today?
The contribution of a
willing mind. Folks very often see what needs to be done, even realize
their obligation to get it done, but are yet derelict in getting at it.
Excused by procrastination, palliated by their good intentions, and with
consciences softened by distant goals, they excuse themselves from getting
active in the business of serving God, at least not today. After all, if
you intend to sometime, does that not count for anything? Does that not
argue a willing mind? Not necessarily.
The willing mind not only
concedes the need, but looks for opportunities for involvement. It not
only observes the necessity, but is anxious to alleviate it as soon as
possible. A truly willing mind and a quick performance are inseparably
connected. Solomon was admonished that he “serve him with a perfect
heart and a willing mind...for it thou seek him, he will be found of thee”
(I Chron. 28:9). The service and the will to do so are bound to one
another.
Nearly everyone intends to
sooner or later. Such intentions count for little.
The contribution of an
active faith. An active faith is a dedicated faith, one that is set
apart to some special consideration, in this case, one set apart to the
work of the Lord. It is the natural result of both the concerned heart and
the willing mind. Paul admonishes that we “walk worth of the vocation
wherewith ye are called” (Eph. 4:1). An active faith seeks expression;
it is a faith that cannot rest until it has performed some function to
authenticate it. “...faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone,”
James says (2:17). Actually, this is accommodative language; there is no
such thing as a dead faith. A dead faith has no identity; a dead faith
does not exist at all.
Hebrews 11 is filled with
illustrations of men with active, dedicated faith. Verse 4– By faith
Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice. Verse 7– By faith Noah
prepared an ark to the saving of his house. By faith Abraham offered Isaac
(vs. 17). The list goes on and on. The faith that saves is the faith that
tries. The faith that saves is the faith that keeps on trying and never
quits.
This kind of faith is for
those who are not afraid (vss. 24-25). It is for those who will seek to
honor the word of Him by believing without doubt that He is able to do
what He has promised (vs. 30). It is for those willing to endure whatever
is necessary in order to prove it (vss. 32-40).
These are not contributions
of the rich and famous. They require no special talent, no uncommon amount
of money, no special set of circumstances. The concerned heart is not the
product of some inherited biological gift, some great ability, but the
desire to make all things right with God. The willing heart is not
accomplished by doing some great deed, but by the continual, day-by-day
giving of one’s thoughts to the word of God. Functional faith is a
statement of one’s system of values, and results in actions which show
where his affections are, where his hopes lie, no matter the situations in
his life, no matter that the circumstances of it are not always free from
problems. These are the features of a life so committed it counts the
reward greater than all of what this earth can offer.
Copyright (C) 2002-2008 Southside
Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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