October 23, 2011
Posted by editor on October 25, 2011 under Bulletin | 
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October 9, 2011
Posted by editor on October 7, 2011 under Bulletin | Be the First to Comment
THREE THINGS EVERY MAN SEEKS
Man has certain needs and wants. Here are three things that most every one seeks after in life.
1. Success – Every man wants to be successful in life. Not only in his business and work, but also in his home. To be able to achieve and accomplish certain goals in life is what gives us ambition.
2. Security – Every man seeks for security in this life. Having a nice comfortable house and material things give us a sense of security. Having a savings account with a “cushion” and a retirement plan is something we are told is necessary by financial advisors. This gives us and our families comfort knowing we are prepared for tomorrow.
3. Satisfaction – Every man knows what it feels like to do a good days work. Knowing you have done your best on the job and accomplished your task gives you that feeling of complete satisfaction. Then as we achieve our long range goals such as receiving a promotion, becoming the boss, attaining a significant raise, we feel good about ourselves.
These three things are important in life. However, the Bible teaches us these things must be kept in proper perspective. Besides that, the spiritual fulfillment of each of these is far more important than what we can acquire in this life.
1. Success – There is nothing inherently wrong with being successful in things that pertain to this life. “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor” (Eccl.2:24). The rich fool in Jesus’ parable (Luke 12:16-21) was not condemned because he had to “pull down his barns and build greater”. Neither was he condemned because he wanted “to eat, drink and be merry.” God gives us these things to enjoy (Eccl.3:13). But this man was called a “fool” because he
failed to recognize God as the source of his riches and failed to put spiritual things first. Jesus said, “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (vs.21). Real success of a man is measured not by what he has of a material nature, but what he is doing spiritually.
2. Security – The parable of the rich fool teaches us that the material riches he had, even though abundant, could not give him security in death. “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” (Lk. 12:20). Only a right relationship with God can give us real peace, comfort and security. This is an inward sense of security that relies upon our faith and hope in God. Heb.6:19
3. Satisfaction – This again, is a good thing to enjoy (Eccl. 5:19). That we can look back on the day or even a lifetime and have a sense of satisfaction in what we have earned, achieved, or accomplished. But real joy and satisfaction can only come in eternity in heaven, when we free from all the toils and hardships of this life we can enjoy that heavenly rest. “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on….that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev. 14:13).
Let us learn there is no real success, security, or satisfaction in this life or the things of the world. The wise man in Ecclesiates summed it up by saying, “all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl.1:14). He concluded that the only thing that really counts in this life is to “Fear God and keep His commandments. For this is man’s all” (Eccl. 12:13). To hear the Lord say at the judgment, “Well done “ will be the most rewarding and successful words a man could ever hear. This will give a man eternal security and complete satisfaction.
—- Jim Bell
September 25, 2011
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TWO WAYS TO KEEP MEMBERS FAITHFUL
There are two ways to keep members of the church “faithful.” The first way is to be sure everyone is involved. Have a project for each member, and make sure that he feels important in his role. Praise him for the good job he is doing. Make him feel needed; make him feel that the well-being of the whole congregation rests firmly on his shoulders. That will keep him “faithful.”
There are two problems with this method. In the first place, it encourages the creation of projects that are not remotely related to the work of the local church. One member plays on the church ball team; another leads the Boy Scout troop; another is an active member of the “Dorcas Society”; another plans the program for the men’s luncheon. Everybody is busy all right, but in activities that are not authorized in the New Testament.
In the second place, members are often given roles for which they are not qualified. A lady is chosen to teach a class, not because she is qualified, but because she needs to be involved. A man is appointed a deacon to help him to be “faithful.” Another man is appointed to serve the Lord’s Supper for a month in order to en-courage him to be present each Sunday that month. This method thus places “the cart before the horse,” for no one should ever be assigned any work in the Lord’s service who is not already faithful and qualified for the work to be done
(2 Timothy 2:2).
The second way to keep people faithful is to develop within them a genuine love for the Lord. When people love the Lord, they will be faithful, and it won’t take some kind of “special” project to keep them faithful. They will also be involved: in worship, in study, in prayer, in godly living, in sharing the gospel with a friend, in helping the needy. I have known literally hundreds of Christians who have never in their lives been appointed to any special work, but whose love for the Lord alone keeps them faithful. There is no superficial faithfulness on the part of these; theirs is a faithfulness that is real.
Special responsibilities are fine for those who are qualified, but the man who requires some special duty to be faithful has never learned what true faithfulness is.
— Bill Hall