The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
December 9, 2007
In
This Issue:
Timely
Giving
by
Steve Klein
We'll
Work Till Jesus Comes -- On Each Other
by
Tim Johnson
Timely Giving
I was sitting in the reception area of a non-profit organization the other day, and I noticed a pamphlet put out by the organization explaining several ways that you can give to support it. One of the ways mentioned was to include a gift to the organization in your will. In fact, the pamphlet stated that they would have a lawyer draw up your will for free if you stipulate in the will that the organization would receive $1,000 or more from your estate.
Giving seems easier when we put it off. We can feel good about ourselves because we are compassionate and charitable at heart, and yet it doesn't cost us anything today. But giving that is delayed often never gets done, or else it comes too late to meet the needs of those who are to receive it.
Paul was concerned that this was the case with the Corinthians' giving. They had wanted to give to help poor saints in Jerusalem, but they had been procrastinating about it for a whole year. Meanwhile, poor saints were suffering. Would the Corinthians continue to dawdle while brethren were in need? Would they come through with any gift at all? Paul tells them, "It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. (2 Corinthians 8:10-11).
Solomon wrote, "Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it' When you have it with you." (Proverbs 3:28). Tomorrow never comes. One of these days is none of these days. We need to help while we have time and opportunity to do so. "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). Procrastination is the assassin of opportunity. Let us "learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs" (Titus 3:14).
Many look at the holiday season as the time to give. For Christians, the time to give is anytime there is a need and we are in a position to help alleviate it.
-- Steve Klein
"Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:1-2). What a challenge laid before us! Not only should we work on ourselves, but we are to work on each other as well. Notice that this is to fulfill the law of Christ, namely, the second greatest commandment of loving each other as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). This requires work, lots of hard work.
You who are spiritual - "Judge not that you be not judged&ldots;" (Matthew 7:1). Jesus is not telling His disciples to refrain from judging other people. He is admonishing His disciples to work on themselves before attempting to work on others: "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged&ldots;why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye&ldots;Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3-5). In I Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul speaks of the Christian life as a race to be won. He speaks of personally being temperate in all things in order to receive an imperishable crown. Yes, he does this for himself, but also for those with whom he would share this crown. He would "become all things to all men that I might by all means save some" (v. 22). This required hard work on himself to become and remain spiritual. "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (v. 27).
Restore such a one - We are exhorted in Hebrews 2:12-13 to beware "&ldots;lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God." Paul warned the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20:28-31 of those among themselves who, "speaking perverse things," would "draw away the disciples after themselves." It requires lots of hard work for elders and faithful members to restore those who are in error. Jesus details this work in Matthew 18:15-17: "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." We can read of an example of such work being performed in I Corinthians 5 in which an erring brother was withdrawn from after he refused to repent. We can read further in II Corinthians 2:1-11 where "this punishment which was inflicted by the majority was sufficient for such a man" (v. 6). Work on restoring the erring brings much happiness and accomplishment (James 5:19-20).
Consider yourself lest you also be tempted - "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8). What better way for the devil to devour the spiritual than through those being restored! Paul instructs Timothy in I Timothy 4:16 to "take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and them that hear you." But how was Timothy to carry out this instruction? He was to "be an example to the believers" (v. 12), "give attention to reading to exhortation, to doctrine" (v. 13), "do not neglect the gift that is in you" (v. 14), and "meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them" (v.15). Once again, this requires hard work: "Be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
"There remains therefore a rest for the people of God" (Hebrews 4:9), but that rest will only come to a faithful worker for the Lord. Will you work, till Jesus comes - on yourself and on each other?
-- Tim Johnson