Some time ago, I had the privilege of leading a businessman to Christ. A business magnate observed what transpired and excitedly said to me, "Dwight! I want to learn to do that! Would you train my senior executives and me in discipleship?"
So, for the next several months when I visited his city, I called his office to arrange for a meeting. However, his secretary repeatedly informed me that due to business pressures and opportunities, he regrettably was unavailable. I am reminded of Jesus' comments about people who succumbed to secondary pressures, rather than respond to His initiatives:
"Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses. The first said, 'I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.' Another said, 'I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.' And yet another said, 'I just got married and need to get home to my wife.'" (Luke 14:18-20 – Message)
Some years ago, by way of contrast, Ron Holechek, a young military intelligence officer jumped at the opportunity for spiritual training and altered his career plans to get it. Today he affects military personnel around the world for Christ.
Similarly, Timothy responded to Paul's offer to travel with him. As a result, he absorbed Paul's godly values, perspective, and training:
"[Paul] came… to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived… Paul wanted to take him along on the journey… " (Acts 16:1b, 3a)
The effect of Paul's life on Timothy became apparent years later in one of Paul's letter to him:
"You… know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings… " (2 Timothy 3:10b, 11a)
Paul's years of building into Timothy's life drives home the point that the people who become qualified laborers are those who avail themselves for training. No wonder Christ commented on the chronic shortage of laborers, as few are willing to make the necessary sacrifice to obtain the training. (See Philippians 2:19-24)
QUESTION: Tell me, are you making yourself available for training in character development and ministry skills so that you will be able to effectively help accomplish Christ's command to "go… make disciples"? Or is your primary focus in life on the pursuit of a withering crown? (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 9:25)
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly… " (Matthew 28:18-19a; 1 Corinthians 9:24-26a)
No comments:
Post a Comment