What Contribution Are You Making?

Text:

‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body You have prepared for me.

Then I said, Behold, I have come .. to do Your will, O God’ – Hebrews 10:5,7

Thought:

Wherever I go I come across “unattached Christians”, those who are not regularly attending a local church. Usually there is a root cause for their non-attendance. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus gave several reasons as to why there was no commitment and therefore no fruit. Misunderstanding, offended, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things. ¹  All are perfectly plausible, but none are valid!

The text reveals that God has prepared a “body” for every Christian. Individually they are a new creation and have a new purpose – to do the will of God. Collectively, Christians are to gather together into local churches. We become the body of Christ and each Christian is a member of that body. God’s intention is that every Christian is a functioning member of a church. Naturally, if a member of my body can’t function effectively due to weakness, disease or paralysis, it causes a great strain on the rest of my body. So the non-attendance or non-functioning of Christians within their local church puts a great strain on the rest of the congregation. Put simply, it makes everything so much harder to do.

At the beginning of 2016 I want to challenge every Christian to ensure they are regularly attending church and making a worthwhile contribution within it. Three things will help us to get and stay on track.

• Time

I don’t have enough time! Yet we seem to make time for the things we really want to do. The saying is so true. “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it!” So many Christians are unwilling to give their time. Talk is cheap but time is expensive. Do not just talk about what you want to do to help your local church. This year make sure you do it!

Dad was upset when in 1976 I announced I was resigning from retail management to attend Bible College. Especially as when he asked how much I was going to be paid I replied, “I am paying them!” After a night of little sleep he said, “Norman, they do not want you, they only want your money, so keep working.” I replied, “Dad, they want me.” God’s call was on my life. The “body” He had prepared for me meant leaving secular employment and financial security and giving my time for an adventure of faith.

It is time to give time to your local church!

• Tithe

This is an aspect of Christianity I frequently mention, but it is worth repeating. Does your local church find it harder to pay its way or to fulfil its vision because you do not tithe your income to it? Tithing is God’s idea. The amount and purpose is very clear in the Bible. Do not withhold but bring all the tithes into your local church. ² This is something every Christian can and must do. Enough said!

• Talent

We all have differing strengths and weaknesses. All have different abilities and desires for helping within the church and reaching out into the community. Churches that are “one man bands” in reality restrict and frustrate congregations, forcing them to look outside of the church for a purpose to function.

How much talent lies hidden even within a relatively small congregation? If only that could be discovered and harnessed, then so much more could be done. Christians have a responsibility to assist church leaders in doing the work of the ministry. ³ When was the last time you asked your minister, “What can I do to help reduce your workload and release my talents within the church?”  Do not just be telling people what you want to do, ask instead, “What needs to be done?” Then be willing to do it, whatever “it” is.

Make a promise now that if ever you have to miss church, you will be missed because you are a faithful, functioning member of the congregation!

1 – Mark 4:13-20                    2 – Malachi 3:8-12                  3 – Ephesians 4:11-16