Pig-Tail Religion
In the New Herbrides the natives have a custom of eating the pig and then giving the tail to the heathen god. Many professed Christians are guilty of this heathen practice. No, we do not worship a heathen idol, but we practice their pig-tail religion. We eat the pig and give God the tail.
The Pig-Tail of Time
Consider our time in relation to God. Each person has twenty-four hours in a day; seven days in a week; three hundred sixty-five days in a year. What do we do with our time? How much of our time is used in the development of the soul and in the cause of the Lord? It takes time to serve the Lord!!! Every Christian has the responsibility to use his time working for the Lord. It takes time to visit the sick. It takes time to teach our friends and neighbors. It takes time to attend the assemblies. There are many in the church that do little of the things mentioned. Some never attend Sunday morning Bible classes. Some never attend Sunday night or the mid-week service. Some have never made a visit to see the sick unless it happened to be one of their best friends. When organized efforts are made to do these things we hear the pleas to be excused, "I do not have the time." Are not such people eating the pig and giving God the tail? If God gets any of their time, it is surely the tail and not the pig. All of their time is used in doing things for themselves.
The Pig-Tail of Talents
What about our talents? How much of our abilities are used in the cause of the Lord? Measure the abilities of the average congregations in relation to its earnings power. What is the total income of this congregation? (You will have to guess). But this will give you an indication of the abilities. Then think of the jobs the people are engaged in. Many members of the church use their abilities in ways that are not related to their work. They are leaders in civic endeavors, school projects and other things. Now, how much of this ability is used for the church? How many of the plans of the church are half done because so few people are willing to work in them? How big a "spurt" would the work of the church take if all members really used their abilities in the church as they do in earning a living? When people are successful in business or have good jobs, it comes with poor grace to say they cannot do anything in the church. Such people are eating the pig and giving the tail to God.
Pig-Tail Money
Now think of money in relation to God. The average contribution of members of the church is 3%. It has been estimated that 20% of the members of the church give 80% of the contribution. What congregation has 80% of its membership this poor? A great portion of this 80% have good homes, cars, televisions, pleasure gadgets just like everybody else. The difference is not the amount of income. The difference is that many of this number are eating the pig and giving God the tail.
By: Franklin Camp