by Tom Wacaster
The Proverb writer tells
us that "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a
broken tooth, and a foot out of joint" (Proverbs 25:19). A farmer in
Tupelo, Oklahoma used to say, "If I had my 'druthers' I think I would
prefer A over B." Given a choice between a broken tooth and a foot out of
joint, my ‘druther’ would be neither.
It is a shock to our
system when someone upon whom we depend does not follow through on his promise,
whether stated or implied. Maybe it is the age in which we live. Lawyers and
legal jargon have made it difficult to state our position clearly, and
contracts have hidden phrases and clauses which actually negate the whole
purpose of the intended contract in the first place. Perhaps it is the wide
spread acceptance of relativism that has brought about the demise of
dependability. Young minds are taught there is no absolute truth, that it all
depends upon how you "define terms." When asked to provide a simple meaning
of the word "is," former President William Jefferson Clinton told us,
"It depends on what the meaning of the word is, is. If it means is, and
never has been, that's one thing. If it means, there is none, that was a
completely true statement." When the President of the United States of
America has a difficult time defining "is," how can we expect
uneducated and impressionable minds to do any better? Without a clear and
definitive goal, and a reliable means to reach that goal, most of humanity will
slip into the quagmire of immorality and irresponsibility. It is a simple fact
that neither an individual nor a nation can long survive in the absence of such
noble qualities as integrity, honesty, and dependability. It is also a fact
that the demise of dependability will eventually lead to the death of a nation.
But what shocks this
scribe is the same demise of dependability among those who are supposed to be
children of God. Where is the child of God who so humbly declared allegiance to
Jesus Christ when we witnessed his baptism into the body? Where are those once
active members who have retired from their jobs and subsequently retired from
active participation in the church? What has happened to the desire to travel
the road to heaven? to maintain distinctiveness for the Master? to further the
cause of Christ in the local congregation? Why is it when members are asked to
jump in and lend a helping hand that the better part of the congregation sits
in silence? "Let someone else do it," comes the cry. Consequently,
"Nobody" heads the list of most signup sheets posted in
congregational foyers. Perhaps I am a little naive, but it seems to me that
when we enlisted in the Lord's army that we volunteered to forego ALL for the
sake of the CAUSE! When someone misses services, or refuses to support the work
of the local congregation for selfish purposes, we are witnessing the demise of
dependability. Indifference to the furtherance of the soul-saving Gospel is
just one more nail in the coffin, and the demise of dependability is almost
complete.
Brethren, there is no
nation in history that has survived the internal loss of those basic and
necessary traits of honesty, integrity, and dependability. The same can be said
of congregations that fail to follow through on the promises made to Jesus
Christ. And if I read my Bible clear, those congregations and individuals that
neglect accepting and fulfilling responsibility are spiritually dead in the
sight of God. We are witnessing the demise of dependability all around us.
Let’s not let it creep into the church as well!!