A man, after 25 years with one company, was still doing the same old job and drawing the same salary. Finally he went to his boss and told him he felt he had been neglected. "After all," he said, "I've had a quarter of a century of experience."
"My dear fellow," sighed the boss, "you haven't had a quarter of a century of experience, you've had one experience for a quarter of a century."
Oh, how common it is for Christians to be content to do the same old things in the same old ways and expect growth and progress. Certainly there is a place for specialization and for using specific God given talents in a specific way. But when our work for the Lord is nothing more than rote, ritualistic activity we cannot experience the growth we need to experience, nor can we be productive in serving Him and leading others to Him. Paul had many years of preaching and mission work. But, he was not satisfied with the activity of the work he did, but with the progress that was made. Though he certainly did not want to do things contrary to what God allowed, he was also not content to simply do things a certain way because that was the way he had always done them. Rather, his focus was on leading others to Christ with whatever method was necessary to accomplish the goal. "...I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some Now this I do for the gospel's sake... (1 Corinthians 9:22 23)
As Christians, are we able to separate our methods from God's message? Can we distinguish between what works and what is just work? Are gaining experience to allow us to serve God better and broader, or are we content with where we are and the experience we have had? God does not simply want us to experience becoming a Christian, but requires us to experience living it for Him. Are you?
- James C. Guy (Author of illustration unknown), Canal Heights church of Christ, in Demopolis, Alabama. He may be contacted at THE BIBLE SAYS website at: http://biblesays.faithsite.com
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