Articles
What Do You Bring?
Over the years Bobbi-Jo and I have been involved in a number of civic organizations, i.e., PTA, Boy Scouts (in four states), non-profit groups, as well as City Council and City Planning Commission meetings, etc. Although the organizations have differed in functionalities, they all had one thing in common, i.e., people of various backgrounds: social, religious and political. How the organization was to be handled depended upon the members thereof that all may be a part of a team, etc. Working as a team requires that everyone has a goal to achieve, i.e., the purpose of the organization.
Working as a team requires that everyone put aside their social, religious, and/or political agendas. However, it very seldom works that way. Why? Everyone has their own agenda which is motivated by their social, religious and/or political beliefs, i.e., socialist, liberal, moderate, or conservative. I am not suggesting that individuals relinquish their beliefs, but just illustrating that when you have two or more people involved in any function, you have as many opinions as to what should be done, and how. Thus, conflict arises as a result of two factors, i.e., doctrine and practice (what is believed and how an individual functions).
These conflicts have arisen in every setting since the beginning of time: Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, Noah and the rest of the inhabitants of the planet, Abraham and Pharoah, (zipping down through history) society’s response to the commands of Jesus.
Upon some reflection and conversation with others it became clear that to maintain civility, each individual or organization must have rules by which matters are to be determined. Husband to wife; Parents to child; Family to citizenship, Nation to nation, etc. The principle is: When putting on the yoke (family, business, etc.), it is essential that each party is aware of what is expected of them. Just as the Lord said, “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together” (Deut. 22:10), so also did the Lord reveal, “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14). Whatever the union, each party would do well to ponder what they perceive their obligations to be and what they perceive to be the duties of them with whom they are yoked.
Examples:
- When seeking employment: It would behoove the prospective employee to make inquiry as to what the employer expects of the employee, and what it is that the prospective employee brings to the employer.
- When a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to a wife (Gen. 2:14), it would behoove each participant to know the expectations of the other, and what each participant brings to the union.
Whether it be a home, nation, or the body of Christ, it will be a day of regret if the parties involved say, “I thought,” having not inquired, or expressed the intent of what is expected, and what each bring to the cause.
God expressed His purpose and plan from the beginning with His expectations, and laws: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:3-6). And to this great opportunity the Lord says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
In answer to the invitation, the Holy Spirit revealed to man, through the apostle John saying, “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (Jn. 3:36). Therefore, Jesus said to the apostles, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned” (Mk. 16:15-16). The choice is yours, what will you bring to the table? Jesus said, “If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments” (Jn. 14:15). ret
- What_Do_You_Bring.pdf (79.22 kB)
