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Dripping Springs Weekly Bulletins
Where is the "Magic" in this Church?
There are weeds to be pulled, rocks to toss aside, grass to mow and a fence to shore up. There is painting to do, a garage that needs to be straightened up and an office that is hopeless. Who can I get to take care of those needs? But everyone else has things of his or her own to take care of, and it looks like mine will just have to wait a while.
What’s wrong with this picture? You guessed it—I need to do it. Me. Not you or someone else, but me, myself and I.
In my growing-up-years I had a magic laundry bag. It was just a plain duffle bag, made of simple cloth, and it hung on a nail in my closet. The beauty of that laundry bag was that when I had clothes that needed washing and ironing, I could put them in that bag and a day or two later I would find them clean, ironed and hanging on a hanger ready to wear. I kept the laundry bag a secret for fear someone would steal it.
Then I went off to college. One of the first things packed was that laundry bag, carefully folded in its place, for it would surely be needed while I was in school. To my dismay, however, as soon as I left the city limits of Fort Worth the magic disappeared. I put soiled clothes in it, left it as before—but two or three days later they were still there, still soiled. I tried hanging it on a different nail, on the other side of the dormitory room, leaving the closet light on, but nothing worked. The magic was gone.
Some of us grew up in a congregation that had the same “magic.” If something needed to be done, two or three days later—Magic—it was done. Baptistry need cleaning? Sick needing a visit? Classes to be taught? Carpet to be vacuumed? Leave it and two or three days later it was done. Right? “Magic”?
I finally learned that the “magic” in my laundry bag was really my mother. So I grew up and learned how to wash and iron my clothes.
I also learned there is no “magic” in the church, but that some faithful, dedicated people were the “magic,” often doing the things no one else wanted to do.
When Jesus left this earth, He told His disciples there was a lot of work to do, mainly taking His Gospel to the lost, both at home and abroad. Have all of us learned to share this load, to “take up our cross daily” (Luke 9:23) and fulfill the responsibility given to us as His people? How can we put some magic in our lives?
LOOK FOR THINGS TO DO
Does someone have to ask us to perform some task? Must a deacon or elder specifically give us the “orders” to visit those who are sick or shut-ins? Just a little alertness will help us see things that need to be done, people who need some help, help that is within our capability to perform. Check with those in charge of certain duties to see if you can give them a break or assist them. There are plenty of works that need to be done if we will but look for them.
DON’T EXPECT PRAISE
Some great joys in life come from deeds done just for the joy
of doing something for others.
“Take heed that you do not do your righteousness before men, to be seen of them. Else ye have no reward from your Father who is in heaven,” Matthew 6:1
The psalmist spoke on this subject:
“Blessed is he that considers the poor. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive... The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness,” Psalm 41:1-3
The medical profession testifies of the value of helping others without them being aware of their unknown benefactor.
THE “MAGIC” IS NOT FOUND:
- ..In being served, but in serving others. See Matthew 20:20-28.
- ..In being honored, but in giving honor to others, Proverbs 22:1-4.
- ..in watching people work, but in doing the work, Nehemiah 4:6.
- ..in talking about good works, but in doing them, James 2:14-20.
- ..in claiming to be a Christian, but in living as a Christian, 1 Peter 4:16.
- ..in knowing of good works, but in performing them, 2 Corinthians 8:11.
- ..in merely doing good works, but doing them for the right reason, Numbers 20:1-13.
- ..in receiving encouragement, but encouraging others, Romans 14:19.
God did Adam a favor in giving him work to do, Genesis1:24-31. Listen to the anguish in the voice of someone who is no longer physically able to work. There is great dignity in work, and our children need to be taught that principle very early in life.
There are so many here who bring “magic” to this congregation of Christians, and we salute you for your attitude and your effort. When a need for money arises, or some work needs to be done, or someone is ill, some of you always come to the fore and gets busy. May your tribe increase!
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“He who rises late must trot all day.”
“The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets.”
“Every man is a consumer, and ought to be a producer. He fails to make his place good unless he not only pays his debt but also adds something to the common wealth.”
“In any given group, the most will do the least and the least the most.”
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