When it comes to the work of the Lord, will it be...
I Won't - I Will - I Can't - I Can?
by: Ivie Powell
There is no doubt, but that one of the greatest challenges facing elders is that of getting every member involved in the Lord's work! Christianity is a doing religion:
"...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:4).
"Go therefore and teach all nations..." (Matthew 28:19).
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10)
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22).
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that the may have right to the tree of live, and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Revelation 22:14).
Christians in the first century were people from every walk of life who had a deep, abiding love for Christ and lost souls. Luke records their fervor for lost souls: "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42). Their zeal for lost souls was not confined to the assembly, but went forth to the lost and dying world in sin! It is truly amazing to read where the gospel "...was preached to every creature which is under heaven..." (Colossians 1:23)!
Brethren, God expects no less of us!!! Christians are workers in the vineyard of the Lord who are expected to "bear much fruit" (John 15:8). the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9) drives home the point of what will take place to God's children who do not bring forth fruit! While every Christian is not expected to do the same thing, they are expected to do things wherein their ability or abilities lie (Matthew 25:14-30)! Observe carefully God's description of one that does not use his ability, "Thou wicked and slothful servant..." (Matthew 25:26). Our heavenly Father never intended for His children to be inactive and lukewarm. To the Laodiceans, the Lord said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:15-16). A penetrating question for us is, "What would God say to the church of Christ that meets at 111 S. Curry Street?"
Beloved, in order for us to hear the welcome words of our precious Saviour, "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34), we must "...be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Every congregation of God's people consist of those who are able and unable to do the work of the Lord. By able and unable we mean: (1) Those who never intend to do anything. (2) The actual workers and (3) Those who wish they could work, but are physically unable. So the question for every child of God is, "In which category do I belong?" I have in my files a wonderful article dated May 5, 1991 from this congregation. The article is entitled, "But, What Can I Do?" by Cliff Stewart. After listing some thirty scriptural works, there is a box to check out to the side of each work: I Won't, I Will, I Can't, I Can. All of which is clearly telling God our attitude toward working with Him (2 Corinthians 6:1) in the vineyard of the Lord (John 15:1-8)!
Consider the
abilities and opportunities you have, will you tell God, I Won't, I Will, I
Can't, or I Can regarding:
Visiting the fatherless and widows (James 1:27)?
Visiting the sick (Matthew 25:34-45)?
Teaching the lost (Mark 16:15-16)?
Restoring the fallen (Galatians 5:1-2, James 5:19-20)?
Comforting the bereaved (Romans 12:15)?
Being a peacemaker (Romans 14:19)?
Promoting unity (Ephesians 4:1-3)?
Standing for the truth (Philippians 1:17, Jude 3)?
Bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)?
Warning the unruly (1 Thessalonians 5:14)?
Teaching others (Hebrews 5:12)?
Forgiving on another (Ephesians 4:31-32)?
Giving as you have been prospered (1 Corinthians 16:1-2)?
Submitting to and obeying the elders (Hebrews 13:7, 17)?
Receiving and supporting the truth (James 1:21, 2 Timothy 4:1-2)?
Supporting good, scriptural works (Titus 3:1, 8)?
Because the apostles gave themselves "...continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word...the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly..." (Acts 6:4, 7). The same results will take place here and in every congregation of the Lord if we, "...give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word"!!!
Beloved, when it comes to the work you can do
for the Lord, will it be: I Won't, I Will, I Can't, or I Can???