Typically,
I don’t like to volunteer for charitable organized events, but I have
done a few. It’s important to have outreach and get the job done. I
would rather sit down in the quiet of a widow’s home or meet one-on-one with a
friend to encourage them than the hoopla of volunteering and being seen of men.
That way I know my praise will come from God. It’s the Lord
Jesus Christ I am serving not man. It’s because sometimes I find it’s to
ease my conscience or be seen of men unless I volunteer on a regular
basis for the same group.
Beware of practicing your righteousness
before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father
who is in heaven. Matthew 6:1
Having
consistency as far as doing the same type of volunteering over and over as far
as sitting down regularly with the same nursing home people, or the same widow,
or the same prison ministry every month or week to mentor a girl. I find
scatter shooting seed “shooting them with the gospel gun” and then running,
well God’s word won’t return void. It just seems to be more effective as
far as “making disciples” if I’m meeting with people regularly. I’ve held
a thanksgiving meal at my job for the international students and some of them
said it was their first Thanksgiving meal in America each year so I try to do
more of a volunteer effort where it’s more than just one time. It’s this
“seeking to make a difference.” But you have to get started! If you
need organized events to get yourself in gear than by all means keep
doing the organized events. It’s better than being stuck in “Park” or
“Neutral.”
Volunteering
to lead worship for three years at a single’s group sometimes every week and
then once a month fits in more with what I call “consistency” in what I like to
volunteer my efforts in, but I’m looking for more music opportunities
right now in evangelism. I did a lot of “scatter shooting” as far as
bring my guitar out on the streets and street preach when I was in my
20’s. Now, I am looking to get back into that “consistency” in using
music to minister to others. I believe I am a psalmist and can see the
benefits of how when David played music the evil spirits were driven from Saul
and I have found music from the Psalms is a good way to lift up a person in
despair and depression. It says that “God inhabits the praises of
Israel.” Music is a way to really bring people into focus as making God
the center of their lives when you are doing the worship as unto God.
There
is a place for “organized” events as far as you can do more financially.
Same way with a large church. I like a large church, but at times you get
lost in a large church if you have gifts and can’t use them. It’s what is
your goal in being in a large church. If it’s just to get your batteries
charged up and go out and do ministry to others, but if it’s to make a
difference with service and let’s say you are music ministry and they have the
cream of the crop to pick from than your gift will be lost.
Same
experience I have at work that I work for a school that teaches computer
art. The atmosphere I came from was a like a third world country as far
as the president just forgot to turn off his caps lock one day so I used my
computer skills a lot more being around people non-techno savvy. Some
environments are more techno savvy. Same with church. Some churches
are overfilled with talent. I’m at my job because I had the opportunity
to attend college, have good benefits and my children got the benefit of l/2
tuition off. But I brought some strong computer skills like working in
databases that I never got to use (that talent) on my job.
So
if the benefits of a large church outweigh a need to be “used of God” than you
may be in the right church for you at the time or you may want to consider
going to a church where you can be used a lot more if you have certain gifts
and talents of God rather than just floating along---it really depends on where
you are at spiritually and your gifts.
A
large church has more financial backing for missionaries and typically can send
out more people as far as financially there are more sponsors as far as there
are larger numbers at that church so if your calling is evangelism, a larger
church can provide a better sponsorship than a small church that is struggling
to make ends meet. It really depends on the church though, because some
small churches may have some people with huge hearts!
One
of the things I learned my lessons on “organized” religion is holding single
socials. Its seems that everyone wants their dip of the pie.
Like when I wanted to start a bowling club at IUPUI, I checked out what I
needed to do to organize one and there were no certain rules to organize a
club/social. I served on the Staff Council at work for seven years so I
had several contacts in “networking” with people so I just sent flyers around
to different departments and asked them to post them on their bulletin boards
in different areas about the bowling clubs and even the student newspaper came
out and took pictures and advertised for it. I found that people
recognize that we are part of the IUPUI family so I had 40 staff and students
on my first league and we co-organized it with Ivy Tech with some of their
staff and students.
I
did not always find that “spirit of cooperation” in working with God’s
people. Everyone is “suspicious” of other people. The Lord showed
me don’t worry about having a man’s approval on what I do as far as this is
America and it’s still a free country the last time I checked. We still
have certain freedoms of religion although some are trying to say “We are of
Paul, we are of Apollos” ---we are of this denomination or that
denomination. It’s gotten to the point when people ask me what church I
go to that I rather not say because than I’ll be put in a “denominational
box.” Back in early Christianity, there was only one church in each city
– Christians were small band, but united. As believers, we are all part
of the same body.
I
have been attending Indian Creek a lot where I had the chance to baptize my
daughter but I’ve been wanting to go to a church on my side of town (the
Westside). I just can’t seem to find a church on the Westside that does not
discriminate against singles. It seems that most churches support
minorities, but they don’t support single ministries because of the dating
drama that goes along with the territory. In conquering giants in the
land there are several giants in having a successful single ministries and it
seems that pastors can’t seem to get past these giants! I like what Jesus
said how he was not called the “whole” in life but he said the sick are in need
of a physician. So I guess singles are just too sick!
For we were all baptized by one Spirit
into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the
one Spirit to drink. 1 Cor. 12:13
There
are several examples in the Bible I see where Saul was the “organized” religion
but David had to run from Saul and he got all the disgruntled people.
That is amazing that David could work with such a group, but David had a way of
bringing people up in life. Same way with Jonathon, he did not wait
around to ask Saul to go up and kill the enemy, he took his armor bearer, asked
God for confirmations and went up and took the hill.
Than
we see “organized” religion as far as the “Holy Spirit” said separate me Paul
(Saul) and Barnabas to the work that I have called them to, but that is the key
it was the Holy Spirit who was talking and so we have to be open to his voice
and if we keep him in a program at church how do we hear His voice?
While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the
work to which I have called them." Acts 3:2
When
I hear these atheists criticize God about seeking praise like he is some
egomaniac, I have several examples for you. I remember this episode in
Anne of Green Gables where she worked very hard on a book and then someone
stole the credit for the book. He put his name on the cover as if he
wrote the book when she had given him the manuscript. His excuse
was that the publishers did not like to use woman authors and he was more
well-known, but he was stealing the credit for the book.
When
a famous actor/actresses is in a movie there may be rewards for the supporting
actor/actresses, but we still know who has the “lead part.”
When
a builder custom builds the house, we may consider the house is beautiful and
say “This is a beautiful house,” but the house was built by someone.”
But who are you, O man, to talk back to
God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me
like this?'" Romans 9:20
And you are living stones that God is
building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests.
Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that
please God. 1 Peter 2:5
Jesus
had the lead part in life and he will get the praise and glory.
In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy
is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12
There
are rewards and crowns for being faithful. I do look forward to hearing
God’s voice, well done you good and faithful servant.” Way over some man
saying that! God says “enter into the joy of your master”---we will share that
joy together.
"The master was full of praise.
'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling
this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's
celebrate together!' Matthew 25:21
Jesus
said to give in secret, pray in secret (don’t do your alms before men) and your
heavenly Father will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6
Commentary:
Examine
yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not
realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? And
I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 2 cor. 13:5-6
Each
one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without
comparing himself to somebody else, Galatians 6:4
But let each one examine his own work: Instead of
deceiving ourselves, we must take a careful and a sober examination of our
works before God. If we don’t, and if we carry on under our self-deception,
then we may think our works are approved before God, when really they
aren’t. We want to have our work approved before God, so that our rejoicing
on the day of reward can be for our own work (himself alone), and not
in the work of another.
i. There is another aspect to rejoicing
in himself. It means having joy at your own walk with the Lord, instead of
feeling spiritual because some around you perhaps are overtaken in any
trespass.
f. Then he will have rejoicing in
himself alone, and not in another has special relevance to those who preach
and teach God’s Word. It shows us that we cannot evaluate ourselves simply on
what others think or say about us, whether it is good or bad.
To
God Be the Glory:
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