It’s after midnight, and you sigh:
“Well, if I am going to achieve anything in life, I have to be prepared to put in long hours and a few late nights. Success doesn’t come without effort. I can’t lose sight of my goal.”
Or maybe it’s 5 AM! Your deep sleep is rudely interrupted by the annoying alarm. The pathetic face in the mirror screams for more sleep, but you tell yourself:
“No, I can’t sleep for another hour. If I am going to get anywhere in this life, I have to put effort into it. If I’m ever going to excel academically or in business, I’ll have to work hard at it.”
What have you been totally focused on this last little while? What has been consuming the most of your awake and alert hours?
The Apostle Paul wrote to Corinthian believers who were chasing after the ‘wow’ gifts for their own personal benefit and enjoyment. For some, the ability to speak in unknown tongues was the big thing to go after. But Paul corrects them:
“Why would you want to speak in a foreign tongue when the other members in your local church share a common language? Are you just thinking of your own selfish enjoyment? Is it a pride thing? Your real desire should be to participate in such a way as to spiritually build-up the entire congregation.” Here is how he says it:
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12
We can strive for many things. We can work hard at excelling in sports, business or a career. We can strive to achieve ‘honours with distinction’ academically or recognition as a vocalist. We might even covet the much-sought-after acclaim of being named the biggest dare-devil or joker in the group.
Spiritually I might be seeking ‘place’ or ‘recognition’ among Christians. “See me! Spiritually, I am head and shoulders above my peers!” Paul says: “If you are really in pursuit of some form of excellence in your life, here is where you should invest your energies and your abilities – the local fellowship of believers! You should be dreaming about edifying, building up, strengthening and helping the local church.”
The real focus should not be how much you are getting out of the local assembly but how much effort you are putting into strengthening it. How committed are you to strengthening the local church where you are a member? How hard are you striving to excel in actually strengthening the fellowship?
Do you attend – wondering what you will get out of the experience, rather than what you will be able to contribute? If the former characterizes your perspective, you will always be discontented, a bit grumpy and somewhat jaded in your views. When John F. Kennedy was sworn in as 35th President of the United States, he said to the American people:
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
Are you working hard to make a positive spiritual contribution? Paul said: “Strive for gold in the category of an edifier and as a strengthener of the local church.” Anyone can be less than that.
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay
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