I recall some years ago a nurse who was eager to get involved with some work that I had started setting up a support group for people who suffered from mental health problems. Getting the group going was difficult, not from lack of funds, but just getting people interested and coming on a regular basis. It had taken 6 months of persistence just to get a small group of regulars attending but 2yrs later the group was thriving and had regular newcomers. This had only come about because of persistence and not giving up. Clients attending the group for the first time continue coming because of encouragement from the ‘regulars’. I was glad of the extra help and due to the interest the nurse showed I encouraged more involvement and gradually bowed out as I was leaving the area. A few months later an ex colleague phoned me to let me know the group had folded. Why? I asked. Well came the reply, the nurse who took over decided the responsibility of long-term commitment was too much, they were overworked and apart from the regulars nobody new was now interested. The group did not need much support and could run itself. The regular attendees became discouraged and so the group had gradually wound up through lack of commitment.
Entropy sets in to any human endeavour. It applies equally as much to life in the Truth. How many times do we hear the comments when speaking about preaching; Nobody listens! I have got too much to do! I am over worked and do enough anyway! I cannot speak to people! There is a lion in the way!
Life is busy and I am sure in varied ways we all have many things to do, families to care for, working to provide for day to day needs, time to relax and so on. All these are valid occupations that all take up our time. Equally so they can also become an excuse, a reason to not undertake work in the service of the Lord Jesus. Think of this, if somebody had not made the effort to witness to us, would we have heard the joyful sound of the gospel message?
What are our responsibilities to our Master? Well firstly we need to remember that our lives are not our own, a great price has been paid for us. Secondly we must realise that each day that we live is a gift from God. The attitude of mind of willing disciples is not one of working out of a sense of duty or obligation; rather their very lives are a living witness. Life is not artificially divided into work, rest, play and the Truth! Preaching the word must not be an intermittent light in our lives, it should, nay must be, a consistent beacon. Any work that comes our way will be seen as a God given opportunity and pursued to the best of our abilities. Each will have their talents, some to speak, some to organize, some to support, some to undertake pastoral work. Whatever the work that comes to hand, all parts of the body are needed. Entropy and disillusionment must be fought at all costs, the Lord is at hand!
“Preach the word in season and out of season” wrote Paul. Witnessing to the Truth is not just about the one off efforts valuable and commendable as these are, it is about consistency and effort in our day-to-day lives. It lies in the small everyday things, the quite word spoken to a colleague, a family member, a friend. The leaflet left in a strategic place, a book donated to a library, our private letter headings, our e-mail signatures and whatever way may come to hand to proclaim the gospel message. If the one off efforts cannot take place it is no great cause for regret, the daily effort is the thing to maintain at all costs, for should that fail then great indeed would be the calamity.
We can encourage each other by word and deed. We can support by prayer. We can write to, or visit those alone. So much can be done daily that shows our love for the Lord and the impact of the Truth in our lives. It is that daily commitment that is the antidote for entropy. It is that daily commitment that is an active witness to a living faith. It is that daily commitment that preaches the gospel message most effectively of all.
So take a lesson from the nurse, don’t start off full of enthusiasm for whatever you do in the service of Yahweh, then decide it’s to much commitment. Don’t think somebody else will do it. Don’t think that the work will look after itself.
Though our effort be small, though our light flicker and shimmer as a candle in the wind, if we scatter the seed, Yahweh will make it grow if it is His will. Who knows when it will grow, some seeds are slow to germinate and germination will occur only when the conditions are right. Often seed can lie dormant until the warmth of the sun and moisture trigger rapid growth. Who knows if those who hear now, will not be those who suddenly burst into growth when the Lord Jesus returns and light of the Kingdom age shines upon them.
We read:
“Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His glorious light” 1Peter 2:9
So let us let that light shine forth daily, holding fast to that which his good and patiently persevering in our Lord’s service. May it be that having been faithful in small things, we might enter into to greater things, hearing those words we all long to hear:
“Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord”. Matt 25:23
Thus we shall join that joyful throng, that cloud of faithful witness from all ages who will be privileged to enter into service for eternity!
Andy P.