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 The Cornerstone 

This is the Stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the Chief Conerstone." Acts 4:11

Pulbished to Support the Work of the West End Church of Christ, Richmond, Virginia

Volume 6 *   Number 31*   July 30, 2006

Saying It, Is Not Doing It

It is one thing to say what to do, and it is another to actually do it. Religion that is pure is active. Consider James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

We speak of visiting with the fatherless and widows, but so often fail to actually do the visiting. Jesus said those who are blessed of His Father are those who "gave meat", "gave drink", "took in", "clothed", "visited" and "came unto". (Matthew 25:34-40) Those who are blessed are those who say and do it. To do otherwise is to be "cursed" and cast into "everlasting fire". (Matthew 25:41)

Never in Scripture do we learn that saying it is the same as doing it. James said, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (1:22) It is sad, but true, that we can be deceived into thinking that we are doing what we are to do, but in truth only hearing about what needs to be done. We must not simply talk about what needs to be done, we must actually do the good works for which we have been created. (Ephesians 2:10)

No, saying it clearly is not a substitute for actually doing it. Stacy Crim

 

Evaluations

David Smitherman

As Paul concluded the Colossian letter (4:7-18) he, as was his custom, made some personal observations as he sent greetings to and from a number of individuals. It is interesting to note his estimation of....

Tychius: "the beloved brother and faithful minister"----Onesimus: "the faithful and beloved brother"----Aristarchus: "my fellow prisoner"----Mark: "if he come unto you, receive him"----Jesus/Justus and all the above: "my fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me"---- Epaphras: "a servant of Christ...he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis"----Luke: "the beloved physician"----Demas: a fellow-worker (see Philemon 24; both letters written at same time) ----Nymphas: "the church that is in their house"----Archippus: "take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it"

Paul's evaluation of these saints is instructive but those regarding Mark and Demas deserve our particular attention in light of his earlier estimation of the one and his later assessment of the other.

Mark: From Uselessness To Usefulness. Prior to his second preaching tour, "Paul thought it not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work" (Acts15:38) and such an evaluation caused a "sharp contention" between himself and Barnabas (vs.39). We don't know why Mark "withdrew" and didn't go with them, but in the intervening years this cousin of Barnabas had transformed so much that Paul, in his final imprisonment, told Timothy to "bring him with thee for he is useful to me for ministering" (2Tim.4:11). Like Mark, many brethren today need to change from being worthless to being worthwhile. Some have acquired bad attitudes, failed to develop talents, not grown in knowledge, have wrong priorities, etc., rendering themselves unfit to make a positive contribution to the Lord's work and, like Mark, they are of little value. How sad!

Demas: From Fellow-Worker To Quitter. At some point Demas developed a love for "this present world" that caused him to abandon his former companion as he faced execution, leaving only Luke with him (2Tim.4:9-11). And many today have, sadly, followed this example. It might be that, like Demas, "the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches" have choked the word causing them to become unfruitful (Matt.13:22). But whatever it is, an immediate return to "fellow-worker" status is imperative. Demas will not, on the judgment day, be able to plead, "I once was a fellow-worker with Paul"--- nor will our "used to be" pleas make any difference with God. What we are, not what we were, is all that will matter.

How do those who know us best evaluate our spiritual character and value to the Lord's work? Is it, "beloved brother, faithful minister, fellow-worker, servant of Christ, a comfort," etc.? Or do they say, "Fine people to be around, great forty-two players....." but no positive things to say about our impact upon and contribution to the Lord's work? Or perhaps our brethren speak of our usefulness in the past tense and our apostasy in the present.

While God's assessment of us should be our primary concern, the spiritual evaluations of others and the commendations or censure that grow out of them are not insignificant (Rom.16:1-15,21 -24; 1 Tim.1:20; 2Tim. 1:15). Few evaluations should mean as much as what Paul said of Mark---"he is useful to me for ministering".

Too Late

by Steve Klein

Are you ever late? Late completing assignments at school or work? Late getting to work, appointments, school or church? Are you ever too late? I've known people who got the time for church services wrong and drove up in the parking lot just as church members were coming out the door. I've also known people to show up for a dinner appointment just as everyone else was finishing dessert! Now that is too late!

What makes us late? Procrastination. Laziness. Failing to recognize and value opportunities. Poor scheduling. Not allowing for emergencies or unexpected circumstances. These are a few of the reasons that people are late for things every day. These same factors will cause some people to be too late when it comes to obeying the gospel.

In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells a parable about ten virgins who were to participate in a wedding feast. They all waited for the appearance of the bridegroom, but the five "foolish virgins" had taken no oil for their lamps. Why not? Procrastination! Laziness! Poor planning! They failed to prepare properly. Then, when the bridegroom was delayed (an unexpected circumstance), the foolish virgins had to go out to buy oil. He came while they were out (another unexpected occurrence), and when they returned, they were too late. They were not allowed entrance to the wedding. Imagine their frustration, sorrow and humiliation.

Another Bible example of folks who were too late is found in Luke 19:41-44. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, "He saw the city and wept over it." He foresaw the day when all that were within would be destroyed and the city would be leveled to the ground, without one stone left on top of another. Why would this happen to Jerusalem and its people? Jesus tells them that it is "because you did not know the time of your visitation." They missed their chance.

On the judgment day, it will be too late to obey the gospel. Those who squandered opportunities to heed and obey in this life will feel a lot like the five virgins who were shut out of the wedding feast - very foolish indeed. They will realize that, like the people of Jerusalem, they missed their chance. And like the children of Israel of old who disobeyed God, they will cry out in despair "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!" (Jeremiah 8:20)

Don't allow that sickening feeling of despair and loss to be yours for all eternity. Life is too short, eternity is too long, and the risk is too great to wait too late to make your life right with God.

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