“Why Are You Involved in So Many Things?”

I am blessed to be involved in several good works. Aside from my personal responsibilities (to my wife and to my own personal growth as a Christian), my primary focus is preaching for the East Hill congregation. Sharing pulpit responsibilities with my co-laborer, Paul Sain, leaves me with at least one sermon and one Bible class to prepare each Lord’s day and usually two Bible classes to prepare each Wednesday. My studies in preparation for these presentations are always my top priority. Additionally, I’m blessed to be involved in working with the Gospel Broadcasting Network and, of course, The Light Network.

Sometimes I’m asked how I can be involved in so many things. I can assure you that I am not an expert in that field. I’m constantly learning and reevaluating myself to be sure that I use my blessings of time and talent (what little I’ve been given) to God’s glory. However, a question I CAN answer is this one: “WHY are you involved in so much?” It isn’t necessarily because I have trouble saying that two letter word that begins with “N” and ends with “O” (though I don’t use it very often if I can help it). Here’s why I do it.

1. I want to completely immerse myself in the Lord’s work. From the time my feet hit the floor until I pillow my head at night, every moment of my day is spent in the work of the church. This is a tremendous blessing! I get to serve God with the greatest people on the planet while studying and spreading the greatest story ever told!

2. I want to spend and be spent in God’s service. I learned this from the apostle Paul (2 Cor. 12:15; cf. 1 Cor. 11:1). Here was a man whose convictions led him to bear his cross all through his life as a faithful Christian, ultimately laying it down in exchange for a crown (2 Tim. 4:6-8). I want that, and Paul says that I can have it. He said that the crown is “not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8). Paul was grateful for the salvation that His Savior had made possible for him, and he showed his gratitude and indebtedness through his service to Jesus (Rom. 1:15; Eph. 2:11). That’s what I must do (Gal. 2:20).

3. I want to use technology to spread the gospel. I am passionate about communication and media. I studied mass media at FHU, and have always had an interest in it. Radio, television, podcasting, and the internet at large are just a few ways by which we can reach the masses with the gospel of Christ. I know that one person cannot do everything. To me, it isn’t about doing everything. Instead, it’s about doing as much as I can to propagate the message (Mat. 28:19-20). Opportunity + ability = responsibility (at least, to some degree).

4. I want to improve. Selfishly speaking, my involvements compliment one another to (hopefully) produce a better me. I desperately want to be a better Bible student and to have greater Bible knowledge. I want to improve as a speaker and a teacher. I want to become more comfortable in front of people, cameras, and microphones so that I can get out of the way and I can focus on spreading the message to the best of my ability. My preaching and media involvements help me to do that. They constantly keep me humble by reminding me how much I need to improve, while giving me opportunities to be better.

I struggled with whether to post this here. I hope it doesn’t sound prideful. This is nowhere near my intent. Today’s post has been a personally therapeutic exercise to remind me of God’s goodness in allowing me to do what I do to His glory. If this post has helped to remind you about why you give your life to Jesus, then my mission has been accomplished. To God be the glory for anything that we can do!

Question: How is your life blessed through your service to God?