An employer interviewing a man seeking a position explained, "We need a responsible man for this job." "Then by all means you want me," the applicant replied, "Everywhere I've ever worked, when something went wrong, they said I was responsible." I'm afraid that some people's attitude toward responsibility is just about that shallow. The willingness to accept and carry out a job to the best of their ability is a disappearing characteristic of our society.
Christians sometimes seem to be afflicted with this same problem when they approach the Lord's work with the attitude that "any old thing will do." Some act as if any effort regardless of its half-hearted or sloppy approach is pleasing to God. And some scarcely bother to involve themselves at all.
Are we content in the church's business to "let the matter ride until next month," when action needs to be taken now? When a plea is made for members to participate in a workday, do a majority decide to "let the others tend to it"? Are Bible class teachers with the weighty task of imparting God's Word guilty of "preparing for class" by reading quickly over the study on Sunday morning as they finish that last cup of coffee?
In the prophet Haggai's day the temple was in shambles. Though it urgently needed restoring, the people wanted to wait claiming the time just wasn't right. But the Lord challenged His people with the question, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses while this house lies desolate? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways!" Their ways suggested that the time was right for them to enjoy the best; but when it came to the priority of the Lord's house, their irresponsibility said His things could wait.
How thankful we should be for the brethren who carry out their work in a responsible way, but how disturbing it is to witness some professed Christians who think so little of the great work before us that they don't give it the place in their lives it deserves. Perhaps we need to "Consider our ways." -- Pat Jones
Home
Another Article
Top
Page last updated: March 03, 2003