This amusing notice was posted on the bulletin board in a business office:
“IT HAS COME TO MANAGEMENT’S ATTENTION THAT WORKERS DYING ON THE JOB ARE FAILING TO FALL DOWN. THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP, AS IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN DEATH AND THE NATURAL MOVEMENT OF THE STAFF. ANY EMPLOYEE FOUND DEAD IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE PAYROLL.”
I can really relate to this message. I recall in my earlier days of employment, working in an office building with no air conditioning on hot summer afternoons. There was one elderly gentleman who would regularly fall asleep at his desk. He became the recipient of many jokes from his workmates. Of course, during these times of having a nap, this man was not only looked upon with disdain, but he was also unproductive in the work he was supposed to be doing.
The above humorous bulletin board description finds a serious parallel among Christians. We can go through the motions of obedience without any real heart involvement. Behind our business-as-usual appearance is a lack of enthusiasm for righteous living and serving God. We need Paul’s admonition: “It is high time to awake out of sleep” (Romans 13:11).
One of our greatest concerns should be for the growing inertia we see around relating to the acceptance of Jesus and His way of life. This inertia appears to be borne out of our involvement in luxury and materialism.
Centuries ago, the psalmist David prayed that he wouldn’t settle for a casual experience (Psalm 119:1-8). He longed for a total commitment, to love what God loves and hate what He hates. David sensed he would have to give his whole heart, mind and strength to the task.
I would suggest that this is what our God is expecting of those who have given their lives over to Him – a total commitment to living the Gospel enthusiastically. The word “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek word “entheos,” meaning “God within.” Earl Nightingale has written that, “Enthusiastic, exuberant people, rare as they are, are the ones who make the difference.” How often have you found this trait in people you know and meet, who are actually making a difference? These people certainly stand out from the crowd, and you can see the results of their enthusiastic ministry.
I believe one other aspect of being an effective Christian, is to enjoy what you are doing. Tom Landry who was regarded as one of the greatest American football coaches and a World War 11 bomber pilot, supports this thesis in his words, “When people are not happy doing what they do, they don’t do it as well as when they are happy.” There is no way anyone will be attracted to our ministry, if our outward demeanour is one of dourness and seemingly disinterest. It is unfortunate, but sometimes we may only be giving a token effort to the ministry we have been called to render.
I have discovered that people are crying out for ministry that is relevant to and will meet their day-to-day needs in life. In order to help these people we need to be sensitive to their desires and be in the right spiritual frame of mind to provide the ministry required.
Another author, Bob Pierce an American Baptist minister and relief worker, has written, “Most people think what the gospel needs is more clever, skilled people, when what it needs is more people who are willing to bleed, suffer and die in a passion to see people come to Christ.”
The weekly themes in the Church’s worship calendar during May are challenging us to amplify our ways of living. Let’s not fall asleep on the job of being a Christian!
Bill Gillard