Excerpts From: The Messenger |
|
|
Have you ever tried to do anything that you were not gifted to do? I am not a computer or electronic wizard or a gifted musician. God has not given me any of these “natural gifts”. On the other hand I consider myself gifted. Here is a story to illustrate how special we are to God.
A minister concluded that his church was getting into serious financial troubles. Coincidentally by chance, while checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed. So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church.
Peter, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task. The Reverend knew that Peter and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some bibles, but he had serious doubts about Louie. Louie was just a little local farmer, who tended to keep to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor little Louie stuttered very badly, but not wanting to discourage him, the Reverend decided to let him try anyway.
He sent the three of them away with the back of their cars stacked with bibles and asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday, which they did.
Anxious to find out how successful they were, the Reverend immediately asked Peter: "Well, Peter, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?" Proudly handing the Reverend an envelope, Peter replied, "Father, using my sales prowess, I was able to sell twenty Bibles, and here's the 200 dollars I collected on behalf of the church." "Fine job, Peter," the Reverend said, vigorously shaking his hand. "You are indeed a fine salesman and the church is indebted to you."
Turning to Paul, he asked: "And Paul, how many bibles did you manage to sell for the church last week." Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied: "Reverend, I am a professional salesman, and I was happy to give the church the benefit of my sales expertise. Last week I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and here's the $280 I collected."
The Reverend responded, "That's absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional and the church is also indebted to you."
Apprehensively, the Reverend turned to little Louie and said, "And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?"
Louie silently offered the Reverend a large envelope. The Reverend opened it and counted the contents.
"What is this?" the Reverend exclaimed, "Louie, there's $3,200 dollars in here! Are you suggesting you sold 320 bibles for the church, door-to-door, in just one week?" Louie just nodded. "That's impossible!" Both Peter and Paul said in unison. "We're professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold ten times as many bibles as we could."
"Yes, this does seem unlikely," the Reverend agreed. "I think you'd better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie." Louie shrugged, I-I-I re-re-re-really do do-do-don't n-n-n-know-f-f-f-for sh-sh-sh-sure," he stammered, impatiently, Peter interrupted. "For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!"
"A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-s-said wa-wa-wa-was," Louie replied, "W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l l---J-j-j-like to b-b-b- buy the-the-the-this b-b-b- bible f-f-f-for t-t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks --- o-o-o-or w-w-w- would yo-you yo-yo-you j-j-j-just like m-m-m-me t-t-t-to st-st-st-stand h-h-h-here and r-r-r-read it to-to-to y-y- you?"
We appreciate the gifts God has given to each of us. These differences have created a need for one another. God wants each of us to need one another. The scriptures describe the Body of Christ in the same way. Each person is a member of His Body with gifts and talents designed to make His Body perform as a multi-talented group, all playing to the same tune.
I take this time to say many thanks to all members and friends of St. Ansgar for the marvelous work you are doing for God's Kingdom. God has called each and every one of us to play a part in God's kingdom. When one link in the chain is weakened, the whole chain is susceptible to breaking. God made it that way so that we could help that weak link. He made it that way so we would be forced to depend on one another. Remember, we are the most important link in the chain, great or small. We are priceless gifts of God to one another. Have a blessed day.
Shalom.
Your friend and pastor
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Pastor@st-ansgars-montreal.ca
Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner
& Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2005/02/01
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal