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Are you aware that Christianity comes in cans? I am sure that I have met some people along the way who would be glad to “get some religion” if they could just get it in a small, inexpensive, easily-accessible package—like a can. While it does not come in that sort of can, the religion of Christ does come in some “cans”:
- Get all you can. Worldly people (and many in the church) are already attempting this, but they are trying to get the wrong things. They seek material things, power, fame, sensual pleasure, revenge, and such like. Those who are serious about following Christ will seek nobler things. They will get all they can of the Word of God, fellowship with the saints, and spiritual strength and growth (Acts 2:42; 2 Pet. 3:18). Those who desire to get all they can of these things will never forsake the assembly, will make time each day for Bible study and prayer, will read sound and wholesome books and periodicals, and such like. They will so hunger and thirst for Truth and the blessings it brings that they will pursue every source to get all they can (Mat. 5:6). Many do not follow Christ very closely because they fail or refuse to get all they can of the right things.
- Save all you can. Many people are doing this, but their primary interest is in saving the wrong things. Some folk save everything they get their hands on. I once knew a man who ate scraps out of garbage cans so he could increase his considerable investments. If some Christians would become as concerned about saving imperishable things as they are about saving perishables it would multiply what could be accomplished for our Lord. If we would be true to the example and teaching of Christ, we must save all we can of the souls about us. Parents and grandparents must do their best to save their children and grandchildren. We all have other family members we should try to save. We must seek to save all of our friends that we can. No, we will never save them all, but who knows which ones we can save until we try? The Lord will not judge us so much by how many we save, but by how hard we tried to save all we can.
- Give all you can. Some people are doing this for their careers, the sports team of which they are a member, a civic club, a political party, or some other cause. Again, if some would give as much to the Lord and His work as they do to secular causes, it would make drastic improvements in what His people could accomplish. I speak not merely of the giving of money, but the gift of self, from which all other honorable giving springs. The Corinthians gave their money so generously because “first they gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:5). The essence of discipleship is self-denial: “If any many would come after me, let him deny himself…” (Luke 9:23). Such will cause one to seek the kingdom first, serve others, and be willing even to suffer for the Savior. Those who thus behave will not be stingy with their money, time, or talent. Neither do they have to be begged to thus give generously.
[Note: I wrote this article for and it was published in The Lighthouse, weekly bulletin of Northpoint Church of Christ, Denton, TX, July 15, 2014, of which I was editor.]
Attribution: From thescripturecache.com; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.
