Selfishness...

My family and I has a weekend off, and the week was spent with other pastors from around our district at our Ministry Summit in Pittsburgh, PA. It was a nice time away to be refreshed and rejuvinated.

Over the weekend, Angela was able to give a concert at her dad's church in Greene, NY which went great. The people were blessed by her ministry and loved the opportunity to bless the Lord in praise and worship along with her.

It was from there that we came home on Monday, for a short lay-over and to pack for the trip to Pitt. This one time we were able to go by ourselves; Angela's mom watched the kids for us which was a nice blessing, and I know that the kids had a ball with her. A great thing since we live so far apart.

Anyhow, what I really enjoyed was a message we heard on Tuesday Night from Rev. Charles Crabtree about selfishness. Rev. Crabtree is the Assistant Gen. Superintendant of the A/G, and he mentioned that he has his concerns about the Assemblies right now, one of which is the gift of the Holy Spirit, but he said beyond that, his foremost concern was selfishness. Which took me back for a minute because there is a "percieved" disconnect from the Gift of the Holy Spirit and his function in our churches and lives, but after I heard the message from Bro. Crabtree, I knew why.

The message was a great one coming from the parable of the Good Samaritan. But before you read it, back up to read the lead-in to that parable. A lawyer is confronting Jesus about what he must do to be saved, and Jesus gives the lesson about the Good Samaritan. The whole idea is that to be saved you must love the Lord with all of your being and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. That is the clencher... It is easy to say that you love the Lord, but quite another to love your neighbor because it demands that you do something with it.

THAT is the essence of what seems to be lacking in the Body of Christ, according to Rev. Crabtree - and now that I have thought about it, I have to agree. It is easy to say that we love the Lord, but it seems much more difficult to love your neighbors because it requires us doing something about it. Moving beyond our own comfort zones, and actually getting involved other people's lives. His driving point was to the pastors about the need to be better that the high priest and the religious person who passed by the beat-down man, just wishing him well. WE HAVE THE GOSPEL! We must do better than just good wishes for people, we have what they need and we are to share it. Like with Peter and John who went to the temple one day and met a man at the gate, Beautiful. Silver and gold, they did not have, but what they did have, they shared. We have this treasure in clay vessels the Bible descibes...we have to share that treasure. Our salvation is the treasure, Jesus is that treasure. However, it is a treasure that is not to be hoarded, but shared with all - there is plenty of Jesus to go around.

Who was it that assisted the man? The Samaritan, who in that day was a half-breed, and looked down upon. Who would have thought he would have anything to offer? But, he did what we shoudl be doing. Have you ever heard people talk of how someone outside of the Church was so nice and helpful. We wonder, "Is that possible?" Yes! They can do it too, just like in the parable. But, we have to wonder how many "Christians" and "religious people" passed by the needy before he recieved help from the less likely? I am sure, far too many. Listen, I am not preaching - I know that I have been guilty of this, and I have a feeling that you are too. :)

Well, I want to ask you to give this some thought and prayer. I hope that this short synopsis did justice to what I had dropped in my spirit on Tuesday night. I pray this thought transforms your thinking towards selfishness, and gives you an opportunity to search your heart to see if there be any need for repentance. As with all who heard this message in person...I am sure there will be.