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 Read
the Manual!
Mike Riley
A few years back, the Washington Post printed an article which
pondered the reluctance of Americans to read the instructions that
come with new products. Too often, consumers struggle with (or even
end up returning) items they can’t figure out how to use, or that
they assume don’t work because they’re using the product
incorrectly. Companies’ customer service lines are tied up by people
asking routine questions about their purchases, phone calls that
could be avoided if people would take the time to read the manual.
Why Americans Don’t Read Directions
The writer of the article wrote, “Why Americans don’t read
directions is no mystery. Consumers want instant satisfaction — they
don’t want to wade through pages and pages of directions after they
buy a product, especially if the directions are hard to understand
or follow. Furthermore, even when the manuals are easy to
understand, they may not be entertaining enough for today’s
consumer, especially younger ones who have grown up with the
fast-paced world of MTV, computer games and the Internet. They are
used to having information delivered in a rapid, colorful and
stimulating way, and they want directions to be equally snappy.”
Toll-free customer service numbers only compound the problem,
because many people would rather call and ask for help than read the
instructions already provided. Having worked as a representative for
an insurance company for several months, I can attest to the
accuracy of the author’s observations. As many as one-third of the
questions I received from policyholders had answers they could have
easily obtain for themselves just by opening the materials they had
been provided when they obtained the insurance coverage. But many
folks are too lazy or stubborn to read those materials, and too
quick to let others to do their research for them.
Reading God’s Instruction Manual
God’s experience with humankind is exactly like that. We continually
get ourselves into trouble and wreck havoc on our lives because we
can’t be bothered to read the “owner’s manual” God has provided -
the Bible. Everything we need to know to live acceptably before God
is contained in this inspired book (Acts 20:32; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2
Peter 1:3).
But how many people really read it? And of those who do make some
attempt to study the Bible, how many apply it diligently to every
circumstance and situation of life? For some, the Scriptures just
aren’t “entertaining” enough. True, the Bible doesn’t read like a
comic book, or a romance novel, or the latest John Grisham thriller.
But then, it’s not a work of fiction: it’s an instruction manual,
one that not only is clear and concise, but addresses all the
complexities of human existence. And, like the consumer quick to
dial the 800 number for help, many folks — including far too many
Christians — are content to let someone else do the reading. “The
preacher knows all that stuff,” they reason. But every individual is
accountable to God for the contents of His word (John 12:48),
because everyone will be judged from the same books (Revelation
20:12-13).
We all have the same responsibility to be diligent in our efforts
to rightly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). The Proverb
writer wrote, “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come
knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the
upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly” (Proverbs
2:6-7). Jesus taught that “you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free” (John 8:32), and affirmed that God’s word is
truth (John 17:17). If it’s freedom and wisdom that we desire, God’s
word is the only legitimate source.
Conclusion
Life is difficult because none of us have ever lived it before. The
knowledge of how to live a righteous life is not innate but must be
learned (Psalms 119:73; Proverbs 2:1-6). When life’s difficult
questions arise, or we don’t know how things work, let’s not be
stubborn or lazy — let’s read the manual! (2 Timothy 2:15; Acts
17:11). ~
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What Can I Do? G. E.
Watkins
I remember in my youth playing little league baseball. To play a
game there had to be players, coaches, umpires, statisticians,
groundskeepers, announcers, fans, even someone to clean up
afterward. Everyone seemed to be happy to do their job, even if it
was remembering to bring the bubblegum. There’s no game with just
players. As you read this I exhort you to remember that it is no
different in the Lord’s church. All have a part to play, all have a
job to do, all are important (1 Cor. 12:14-18).
Ask the question, “What can I do to make the work of the church a
success?” Immediately the high-profile jobs come to mind, however
only a few can be elder, deacon and preacher. Such things require
much preparation and you may not be prepared to that degree. I’m
going to assume you have little in the way of preparation, you’re
attending regularly and giving liberally. So, on to the question,
What can I do?
Market your congregation’s website. I think you can understand why I
thought of this first. Websites are what I do. Your e-mail program
will allow you to create a signature file which includes your name
and whatever other information you’d like to include. Check the help
files of the e-mail program for instructions. Include your
congregation’s web address in every personal e-mail you send out. If
everyone in the congregation did this it would go a long way toward
making sure everyone knows about it. You might also include other
good sites that deserve your support. Buy a stamp with the web
address on it and stamp all of your bill envelopes with it. Someone
will see it. There may be other opportunities that you have that I
cannot see. Search these out and use them to get the word out about
your congregation.
Get serious about distributing tracts. Most congregations have
tracts available in the foyer for you to use and you should. I’m
talking about going a little farther than that. It doesn’t cost all
that much to buy a hundred of a title every month for the purpose of
distributing them. Stamp them on the back with the congregation’s
physical address and web address and hand them out. I know it feels
weird doing it but it will propel you forward to the day when you’ll
actually be able to talk to others about the plan of salvation. Give
them to people you know. Mail them to your neighbors. (It’s against
the law to put things in other’s mailboxes.) Go downtown and hand
them out on the sidewalk. In most cities it’s not unusual for there
to be someone handing out tracts downtown. Stand up straight, have a
smile on your face and look like everyone should want what you have
to offer. Most people are nicer than you think. It’s easier if you
don’t go alone, even if your partner doesn’t participate but will
stand nearby. Please don’t put the tracts under windshield wipers or
go to private property (malls, strip centers, etc.) to hand them
out. Treat the tract like a gift. For this purpose choose titles
that introduce the church of Christ, give the plan of salvation or
that give information about a major topic of interest (ask the
leaders of your congregation).
Visit the elderly and shut-ins. For a moment pretend that you’ve
been active in the church for fifty years or more, have become
infirm and you’re alone. You counted on church members to edify you
when you were able to attend but now there is no one. You needed
those sermons, the prayers, the singing, all of it, but now there’s
nothing but soap operas on TV. In the bulletin, in a large portion
of churches of Christ, there is a list of those who are exactly in
this position. It’s your job to make sure they never feel forgotten.
Call them, send them cards on their special days, visit them, bring
a cassette tape of last Sunday’s sermon, sing with them, read the
Bible to them, listen to their stories. Edify them. Perhaps they
have physical needs you can fill or you can let an elder or deacon
know if you can’t. You’ll be a very appreciated person.
If those three suggestions don’t suit you I’m sure your elders can
come up with something for you to do. The things I have suggested
are things that, I believe, could make a huge difference if more
participated. They don’t take any training, don’t require
supervision and will have eternal consequences. Let’s all go to work
in the kingdom. ~
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Going to Heaven By Ron
Boatwright
Our number one priority in this life must be to go to Heaven.
Nothing else is as important. Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you." Our soul is the most precious thing we have.
There is nothing that can equal its value. We read in Matthew 16:26,
"For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and
loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul?" One certainly does not profit in the tragic loss of his soul.
It is easy in today’s materialistic society to get caught up in the
pursuit of materialism if we are not careful. Our Lord says in
Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth
nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For
where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Our bank
account needs to be in heaven.
Everyday we need to tell ourselves that the main thing in this life
is to go to Heaven. We read in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth." We should regularly
think about going to Heaven.
Heaven is a prepared place (John 14:2-3) for a prepared people. It
will be such a wonderful place, which is beyond our wildest dreams.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared
for those who love Him." There is no way that Heaven can be
described so we as mortal human beings can understand how wonderful
it will be.
A person will not accidentally go to Heaven. Going to Heaven is a
lifelong race as we read in Hebrews 12:1, "Let us run with endurance
the race that is set before us." Going to Heaven requires endurance,
patience, and persistence. We must finish the race. ~
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