A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 1 NO. 38                                         NOVEMBER 7, 2004

“DENYING SELF”

PART VI
BY STEVE NIEMEIER

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24).  This statement also applies to us today.  The question that we must answer is this, “Am I willing to deny myself and take up my cross and follow after Jesus?”  Last week we discussed the subject of “unrighteous judging.”  This week let us look at the thought of us denying self as it comes to giving ourselves to the Lord's work.

The scriptures are full of examples and instructions of how we are to give unto the Lord.  Let us look at just some of the passages:  willing (I Chronicles 29:3-9); proportionately (Malachi 3:10); without show (Matthew 6:1-4);  according to our ability (I Corinthians 16:1-2); liberally (II Corinthians 9:6-15);  cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:7).  Just looking at these passages we see a pattern of how we are to give unto the Lord.  While many of us will look at our checkbooks and say that we are doing this just as these passages instruct, let us ask ourselves are we as giving with our time as we seem to think that we are with our money?

Congregations are struggling to find good men to preach to them on a regular basis because brethren refuse to deny themselves to dig deeper into their pockets to find the extra dollars for the Lord's work.  Many local congregations have become stagnant because of brethren refusing to deny themselves and become “workers” for the Lord with their time.  How many times do we hear “We have tried that before” when someone with enthusiasm wishes to “prod” those of us who have become complacent to get off the pews and do some labor in the Lord's Kingdom?  Often preachers themselves find a congregation that is somewhat “satisfied” and he also becomes “content” and will stay many years with the congregation dying a slow death because the pulpit is full of “physical” attraction but short on spiritual food!

Jesus Christ commanded that the gospel be preached to the entire world.  Are we doing that?  Proverbs 29:18 states “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.”  Brethren many of us lack vision!  There is much that can be done in the vineyard of the Lord yet we are held back many times by our unwillingness to deny ourselves!  As we purpose to give of our money to the Lord let us take a look around and see the many physical amenities of life that we have but do not need.  Credit is at an all time high and many of us this week will put something on credit that we want but do not need.  Yet the Lord will have to wait until “we can afford it” before we venture out to do His work.  Widows, widowers, elderly, physically sick, spiritually weak, brothers and sisters in Christ, and the lost ones of the world who have not been taught the true gospel of Christ will sit alone this week as many of us refuse to “deny ourselves” and give of our means.

We want to wear the name Christian to signify that we are of Christ, are we willing to deny ourselves and give to God as Christ did?