Would You be Missed?

After completing many years as a journalist, Arthur Brisbane was offered six months of paid vacation time by

William Randolph Hearst, the publisher of the San Francisco Examiner. Brisbane refused to accept the kind offer because of two reasons. He said, "First, if I quit writing my newspaper column for six months, it might affect circulation of the newspaper. Second, is that it might not affect the circulation of the newspaper

So what about you? If you took six months off from your service to the Lord, would you be missed? Would the church suffer? Would it even notice?

I’m afraid that the fact of the matter is too many of us have such a low commitment to the Lord’s work that we feel that the extent of our duty is just to show up occasionally. Our benefit to the church is as head to count. Now I would be the first to tell folks that they need to be in the assembly of the church. But it’s not enough just to show up. Consider “the” verse on church attendance;

Hebrews 10:23-25

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Why should we attend church? Why are we to be showing up? This verse tells us it is to encourage and to stimulate others! It isn’t about just about getting for ourselves. It’s about being a part of the body and strengthening and maintaining it. We can’t claim to be keeping our commitments if we are doing anything for the body.

Don’t be a parasite on the Body. A person that only takes and never does anything of benefit. Do more than just attend. Make your presence a vital part of the life of the Body.

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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