What's the Point of That?

A man was walking down the street one day and suddenly fell into a deep pit. The walls of this pit were so tall and slick that he was unable to climb to the top. He could however, see people passing by on the sidewalk above him. He called out to a priest saying, “Father, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” The priest said, “Bless you my son. May God be with you,” and continued walking. The man then saw a city councilman and again called out, “Your honor, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” The councilman looked down and responded, “My heavens. This is indeed a severe problem. I shall make a motion at the next council meeting to appoint a committee to assess your situation and make recommendations on how to proceed with your rescue.” The councilman then continued handing out campaign buttons. Finally, a friend of this man walked by. A third time he called out, “My friend, please help me. I have fallen into a pit.” Without hesitation his friend jumped down into the pit. The man criticized his friend’s action shouting, “You fool! Now you and I are both in this pit!” to which his friend replied, “Yes, but I have been down here before and I know the way out.”

Many people have a tendency to say what they know they should, but do only what they want. The priest and the councilman gave lip service to this man who was in trouble. They said things that sounded good, but they did not back up those words with tangible action. James asks the question, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2:15-16). This statement comes just after he essentially says that pure religion is to help those who cannot help themselves (James 1:27). James, here, is trying to get across the point that Christianity is just as much about doing as it is anything else. This brings us to the book of Galatians.

After explaining how we are to “walk by the Spirit”, Paul recommends that we “not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.” He continues “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness…bear one another’s burdens…for if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself…so then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 5:25-6:10). The point here is simple: help each other out, but in doing so do not think that you are better than everyone else.

God has given us as Christians the responsibility to serve the world, especially those people who belong to Him. We cannot serve with arrogance, thinking that we are superior. Remember that the friend was only able to save the man from the pit because he had once been trapped in the pit himself. It is only when we realize that everyone can contribute to God’s family and that everyone is just as important as we are that God can truly use us to bring glory to Him and save a lost world. Let us pray that God develops within each member of Central’s youth ministry the humble heart of a servant.