Deflated Christians - Let them work! - Joey Ferrell
“Deflated members of the church”
I used to ride my bicycle very often. Sometimes, I would ride 30-50 miles at a time, nearly once a month or so. It was so soothing, it was so refreshing, and it was quite time consuming…but worth the trade off.
I’ve not found myself with as much energy and balance of time to ride anywhere near as much as I once did. Matter of fact, I may have only ridden my bicycle 4-5 times the entire year last year.
Not only do the muscles that are used in riding begin to deteriorate, the desire also seems to diminish with the more “missed opportunities.” But, beyond even these challenges, come more.
The last time I wanted to “jump on the bike,” I couldn’t. Why? Because I had neglected to use the bike for the purpose it was intended. Not only had I neglected the use, but it simply hung on the hanger in the garage designed to hold it. So, why couldn’t I ride?
When I went to check the tires for proper inflation, they were lacking. They needed air. So, I got the pump out, and started pumping. After a few pumps, the tire seemed to begin to inflate. It was not long, however, that I heard a prompt “psssshhh”. This sound was the tube inside of the tire.
The tube had deteriorated. It was what we might call “dry-rotted” from where the tires had not been inflated or through normal use had any fluctuation in pressure. The tube was ruined.
Luckily, I had an extra tube. I took the tire apart, replaced the tube, put it back together, back on the bicycle, and began inflating. All was going well…until I began to notice the stress cracks on the tire itself as it expanded. Although that was a concern, I decided that it was safe to at least venture out a few miles…and I did. It was an incredibly bumpy ride. See, the tires had taken on an irregular shape from not being inflated and they were riding very wobbly.
I finished my ride that day…only about 7-8 miles. It was frustrating. I knew I could do much more than this, but I had neglected to use and care for the instrument in which was needed for the ride.
Do you realize that the same can and does happen in the church?
There are members within congregations who have a zeal and desire to work for the Lord…and they are looked over, pushed aside, or completely ignored. Maybe they can lead singing, or a prayer. Maybe they have a zeal for evangelism. Maybe they just want to be asked to do something that would be helpful in some way…but, for some reason or another, they just are expected to hang out on the pew and let others do things that maybe they can do as well or better, and want to when some of the ones doing…do not.
You know what happens to that member? They become deflated. They lose their ability to perform as best they can and even can become torn down so bad that they wouldn’t even be dependable if they were tasked with serving.
I saw an ad for a used bike similar to mine this past week. $400. I thought, that’s a pretty good price considering that that model sells for over $1,000. For a brief moment I thought, “maybe I should make an offer and keep it for a back-up.”
It was then that I realized that maybe my trusty bicycle could probably serve someone better that would properly use and condition the service of the instrument as it was intended to be used. Maybe I need to put mine up for sale. After all, if I am not going to use it, it will just continue to deteriorate to a point of little to no value or usability.
This is a very serious problem and challenge that I see even in my own efforts to serve. Church….don’t let those who desire to serve or have a particular opportunity that can be of benefit to the Lord’s kingdom deteriorate. Let them work. Use them. Learn from them. Help them.