That statement made by
Governor Felix in response to the preaching of Paul I find very
interesting. It’s indicative of something very commonly seen in the
efforts to reach others with the Gospel. I’d like to spend a few minutes discussing
this with you today and I hope that you find it spiritually instructive.
Last week I had an
appointment with my doctor who is also my wife’s doctor. My wife had been
feeling very sick for a couple of days and the doctor’s office said that I could
bring her with me at my appointment time and they’d “work her in.” It’s a
good thing that they did as she went straight to the hospital emergency and
spent the next 6 days there being treated.
Now I’m only using her
situation as a basis for my thoughts today which will be centered on the idea
of being “worked in.” And I’m sure that many of you have been in similar
situations; of being “worked in” to the doctor’s office or somewhere
else. We’re all familiar with being “conveniently worked in” on some
occasion and the word
“convenient” will be the nexus for tying Felix’s words to our
lesson.
Another way of the
doctor saying we’ll “work you in” is like saying we’ll “fit you in.” That
we already have a schedule of things to do and when it’s “convenient” we’ll “fit you
in.” In other words, we weren’t their first priority. And you know
what, as human beings, we sort of like being the “priority,” don’t we? We
don’t really like being secondary or being “worked in.”
Well, I’m afraid that a
lot of people, even “religious” people, treat God that way. They “work
Him in” when it’s “convenient”
for them to do so. By the way, do you know what that word “convenient,” as used by
Gov. Felix, meant on the occasion of his usage of the word? In the Greek
(only time used in New Testament) one of the definitions is “a while.” As
in “a while” I’ll get around to you.
Actually I like the way
that verse reads in the English Standard Version. Take a look at it as it
reads there: “Go away for the
present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
If we, as humans or creatures, don’t like being of secondary priority, of being
“worked in,” wouldn’t you think that God, the Creator, might feel the same way?
In my humble opinion, I
just don’t think God appreciates “just getting into” our lives anymore than we
appreciate being relegated to a secondary position and receiving attention when
it’s “convenient”
to someone else. We just don’t like being a “convenience,” do we?
There’s a passage in the
Bible that tells us exactly what God thinks about being relegated to a
secondary role in our lives. If you turn to Luke 9 and read verses 57-62
you’ll see how God likes being “worked in” to our lives.
We read the story of
three men who professed interest in “following”
Jesus. Two of these men though wanted to “work Him in” to their
schedule. In other words, they had other things they were doing at the
moment and when they had completed them, then they’d follow Him.
Yes, they had plans
already made. Things that they were doing that had their attention at the
moment. It’s like they said, “OK Lord, I’m going to follow you, but I’ve
got some business that I need to take care of first. When I take care of
that business I’ll be right there with you.”
Do you think their
situation is very far from the way people today treat the Lord? I
certainly don’t. How many people intend to “follow” God when they can “work Him in” to
their lives? Wouldn’t it be interesting to somehow know how many ever
reach the time when God becomes “convenient”
to them?
Well, from Luke’s
account of the story we cited, we can see what the Lord thought of their
putting Him second. Paraphrastically speaking, you can’t put your earthly
endeavors ahead of God. You can’t put your personal interests ahead of
studying The Word. Of meeting with the “body”
or of being devoted to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. And
especially, ahead of spreading the Gospel with others.
No, we can’t do those
things when it’s “convenient”
to us. When we can “get around to it.” In wrapping up my thoughts
here, I guess what I’m saying is what the picture painted by the men talked
about in Luke 9. That as long as we’re putting our earthly endeavors
ahead of being obedient and pleasing to God then I’ll just use His words: we’re
“not fit for the kingdom of
God.” (Lk. 9:62)
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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