Dear Church Member:
Imagine you are sitting in your favorite chair at home when, before you, appears an angel. You are informed in an urgent tone of voice that God has chosen you to do a special work for Him. Your mind races through the excuses you usually give for not holding a church office or getting involved in little things that would advance the work of heaven.
I’m too busy with my job, raising the kids, keeping the house up... I’m a student and my life is already so full... I have no experience in church jobs... We’re retired and have come to the place where we have lots of aches and pains and don’t drive at night. We were active in the past, so now it is time for the younger crowd to step up and get involved.
After listening patiently to whatever excuses you give, the angel still insists he has been sent from God to give you a special assignment. It will mean some things will have to change in your lifestyle. It sounds like a terrible sacrifice. The angel asks for an immediate answer, because if you are not willing, he must give the invitation to someone else.
How would you respond? Would you reject an angel sent from God? Is there anything in your life more important than saying “yes” to a personal invitation from God?
This event I have described is not fiction. Read the story in Matthew 25 of the man who was given responsibility by his Master, but failed to do anything with what he was given.
“You may reason that because your talent is small, it is no matter whether you use it or not; but it matters just as much to you as it did to that man in the parable. Your life is bound up with the lives of others. If you feel no care to be a blessing to others, if you are not laboring together with God here, right here in this life, you will have no place in the mansions above. You do not know how successfully God can use you if you will put your whole heart, your whole mind and soul and might, into his service” (Ellen White, Review and Herald, Aug. 11, 1891).
Whatever your excuse for inactivity, think again about that special call from God. Our individual spiritual health depends on answering it. There is no other way to keep faith alive. We either use it or lose it. No exceptions.
“By living to minister for others, man is brought into connection with Christ. The law of service becomes the connecting link which binds us to God and to our fellow men. Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God” (Christ Object Lessons, p. 326-327).
To those of you who have already said “yes” and are local church leaders, thank you. You are usually overworked and often deny yourself life’s comforts in order to serve God and others. You tolerate others who complain about what’s wrong with the church program but who won’t bother to make it better. You are a very special group on whose shoulders the church program is carried.
Sincerely your friend,
Tom Mostert, President
Pacific Union Conference
P.O. Box 5005
Westlake Village, CA 91361
tmpm3@attglobal.net
