What’s Really Important

Posted on July 27, 2008

 

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An addiction has been defined as “the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in something.” I want to make a confession that I have an addiction that must be fed. It’s an addiction to changed lives!

Clint Eastwood once said, “A man needs to know his limitations.” I think we need to see the limitations of our churches – what’s holding us back? I have some thoughts…

1. We are small minded, but Jesus sees a potential for reaching the masses.

By small-minded, I mean we’re limited in what we think we can do. We’re sometimes not even the little engine that could – we’re the little engine that was perfectly fine just doing ministry at the bottom of the hill. Forget the mountain. After all, we’re just a small church and we can’t possibly compete with the world, so why try?

But Jesus saw the throngs of people coming out of Samaria to the well that day, and his heart broke for them. He encouraged His disciples to look at them as a ready harvest, and they didn’t get it.

2. We are short-sighted, but Jesus sees the eternal effects of changed lives.

We often forget the eternal effects, and even the long-term, here-and-now effects of someone coming to know Christ or having their life changed by an experience with God. Our spirituality has inter-generational effects and eternal effects. We can influence a generation for Christ.

3. We are self-centered, but Jesus is God-centered and others-oriented.

I hate to admit it, but a favorite movie of mine is Mary Poppins. One of the lessons taught is when Mary explains to Jane and Michael that their father can’t see past the end of his nose. They want to give their toppins to the lady who feeds the birds, but the Dad wants them to put it in the bank – he doesn’t even notice the woman because he can’t see past the end of his nose. By the end of the movie, he’s redeemed himself, but we’re a lot like that too.

Going to camp reminded me that when we strip away our busy to do lists, televisions, cell phones, etc. we are forced to notice the real needs that exist in people’s lives. We can be God-centered (living in His will and joining in His work) and others-oriented.

Lanny Wolfe wrote these words…

My house is full, but my field is empty,
Who will go and work for Me today.
It seems my children want to stay around my table,
But no one wants to work my fields,
No one wants to work my fields.