Volume
10, Issue 8
BE SUCCESSFUL WHEREVER YOU ARE!
When we study the work of the church, and its success, we notice immediately that
each local church is presented individually, and independently, as doing its
own work (Acts 6:3;
Churches of Christ must do more than just teach the New Testament
patterns in order to be successful! As in the above reference, there is no
doubt that the work of benevolence for those who were in Christ was
accomplished through the churches of Christ, and that without Christians
building a human society or organization to do such exterior to the churches.
This past year I have written concerning the difficulty of getting
people to see that God gave the local church. Brethren, when
hearts are enthralled with their favorite human organization or
society that is where their money goes! That's the way such are planned and
operated. Understand that human societies built by men to do the work God gave
the church to do are a depreciation of the divine organization God gave-the
local church. This is true in both benevolence to saints, and the work of
evangelism.
I'm afraid that all too often small churches, and not so small,
are lacking in the very thing that Paul mentions here- "your
liberality." Question: How is "your liberality" doing concerning
the church you are a member of? Could someone answer? "Well, you know I
really can't remember how long it's been since we helped needy saints
elsewhere." To the contrary, be successful in the Lord's work and do not
let the size of the church discourage you.
Brethren, preachers, teachers, elders- we
all have much work to do to get our churches to doing the works God gave for
them to do! More so today, than in time past, we need the following reminders
and admonitions so that the church we belong to, as well as ourselves as
individuals, might be successful. We can be successful wherever we are!
REMINDERS TO BE GOOD AT IMPARTING:
A.
We are told to remember the Lord's statement in Acts 20:35, "It is more
blessed to given than receive."
B.
So the church could do its work Paul said, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or
of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" ( 2 Cor. 9:7).
C. The command to be given to the rich is clear enough. Hear Paul,
"Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the
living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
[18] That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute,
willing to communicate; [19] Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life" (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
Dear reader the word "ready"
means to be good at imparting, i.e. liberal :- ready to distribute
(Strong's Help, Gk. 2130).
By now one should be getting the scriptural point. Paul is saying
that brethren must be taught to be good at imparting!
D. Consider Paul's charge to evangelists: "Put
them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be ready to every good work" (Titus 3:1).
Here "be ready" is defined as ~ Strong's Help:
Gk. 2092, hetoimos...; from an old noun heteos (fitness); adjusted, i.e. ready :-
prepared, (made) ready (-iness, to our hand). Clearly
the idea is to be prepared or made ready so as to take advantage of the
opportunity.
Also Paul told Titus to "put them in mind" ~ Strong's
Help: hupomimnesko, Greek 5279; ...to remind quietly,
i.e. suggest to the (middle one's own) memory :- put
in mind, remember, bring to (put in) remembrance.
Thus, such is accomplished by reminding brethren of their obligations
and duties.
Question: is this lacking in your local church? Why? What is
happening in Christ's churches when brethren are distant from such good work?
Paul told the church at
E. It should be our aim or goal to please God and thus receive His
blessings (Heb.
God is not going to forget to bless such! The Hebrew writer
states, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed
toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. "
Do we understand in this epistle that those who fell away had lost
this desire? If He does not forget then this means that He will think upon us
for good for what we have done (Cp. Neh.
F. Both individuals and churches may possess a dead faith! (Cp. Ja. 2:15-17; Rev. 3:1).
Years ago we received a plea to help very poor brethren abroad. I
remember, as it was being discussed, one made a statement to the tune of,
"If we do then they will be asking again." Beloved dead statements go
with dead faith!" You would think that one would want opportunities
to present themselves so that our care for others might flourish or revive
itself all over again! (Cp. Phil. 4:10, 16).
G. Notice that the following verses teach us as individuals that
all aid rendered is with a view to the time when we will "enter"
eternal life: Ja.
If one cannot be touched as an individual little is ever done
collectively by a church comprised of such! Understand that a request (to help,
or for help) is something needed rather than just something desired. There are
degrees for poverty itself (2 Cor. 8:2). Do you remember yourself what it is
like to have to plead for aid?
Question: would you be benefited by reading "their"
passage "they" live by? Read it in Matt. 6:24-34. Now think about
brethren whose days are hard, causing labor and toil in a physical, material, way. I have not been blessed in my lifetime, as some of
have, with being with these brethren whose hearts they say rejoice in hope of
eternal life, and who are thankful and joyful day by day for just having
sufficient to eat and clothe themselves with, and have some kind of shelter
from the elements. Who have no running water, or indoor conveniences, and often
no way of paying for medical attention. Count your
blessings over here! For the most part we are rich compared to those in third
world countries. We die over here with medical care. What is it like to suffer
and have no medical relief, and that even unto death?
Question: Who cared for Lazareth?
(read Lk. 16:21).
Knowledge of the work that must be done often begins with a
messenger (Acts
H. There is an account for churches so far as God is concerned
(Phil.
"How" we give from what we have is important to
God. Paul said to the church at
Conclusion: We can and should be known as a church that
will help as we are able.