The Proclaimer

Doing The Best I Can

In the last couple of weeks we have seen two individuals obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is certainly a wonderful thing.  It is truly remarkable to watch the power of the gospel work in the lives of men.  One of the things most obvious when someone realizes their need to be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins is the sense of urgency they feel in rendering their obedience.  Think back to when you were afraid time would expire before you could be baptized.  Now think of how you feel about obeying and working for the Lord today.  Do you still feel the same sense of urgency? “We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).

As servants of the Lord we must be at work in His vineyard.  Sometimes we are afraid to serve because our talent is not as great as that of someone else.  Or sometimes we don’t serve because we’re afraid of being criticized.  John Henry Newman said, “A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault.”  We need to remember that we are not in competition with anyone nor is God going to compare our abilities with anyone else.  One of the wonderful teachings of the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30) is that we’re each judged individually on how we use what abilities we have been given.  In this parable we find the five talent man becoming a ten talent man and the two talent man growing to a five talent man.  The only one that didn’t grow was the man who didn’t use his talent. 

We may not be the best teacher and others may know more about the Bible than we know, but we all still need to feel a sense of urgency in taking the gospel to the lost. Sometimes we’re hesitant to talk to our neighbor about the Bible because we’re overly concerned about saying the right thing at the right time.  Solomon speaks of the foolishness of waiting for ideal circumstances, “He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap” (Ecc. 11:4).  There is never a perfect time to talk to someone about their soul’s salvation.  The “convenient season” of obedience never really comes (cf. Acts 24:25). 

Sometimes we forget that excellence in serving the Lord is not determined by the superiority of our abilities but in doing the very best that we are able to do.  We also need to remember that our abilities will improve with practice.  Sometimes we let pride get in the way of serving because we’re afraid that initially we won’t do as good a job as someone else might do.  While some might criticize or even make fun, the Lord won’t.  Instead, He will be pleased with our efforts to do all that we can to serve Him.

Sometimes a false sense of “humility” serves as a smoke screen for that which is in reality laziness on our part.  When asked to serve, “I can’t” really means “I won’t,” and “Someone else can do it better” really means, “I don’t want to.”  But the fact is, humility will motivate us to serve.  Hear the words of Jesus: “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt. 23:11, 12).  The fact is, most of us would benefit from remembering that the Lord called us to serve rather than to be served. 

May God help us all to feel an urgent need to serve the Lord; to do the very best we can to make the greatest contribution to the kingdom that we can make.

                                                                                          -- Clark Dugger

The Proclaimer