THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCH
AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
CHAPTER SEVEN:
THE BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH REQUIRES
TOTAL CONSECRATION
WEEK 5 - FRIDAY
Bible Reading: Haggai 1:1-11; Luke 14:25-33
Read and pray: "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the Lord." (Haggai 1:7,8)
WE ARE INCAPABLE OF CARING
FOR GOD'S HOUSE AND FOR OUR OWN (1)
Once, some Western missionaries confronted me, saying that the brothers responsible for group meetings should take proper care of their own homes and not participate in so many meetings. Although they had good intentions, we must ask: "Which house is more important, God's or ours?"
It is a matter of consecration. We cannot say amen to the attitude that Western missionaries have towards family. Instead of sacrificing their house for God's house, they sacrifice God's house for theirs. We cannot say amen to this. Their family may be wonderful, but what is the state of the church they lead?
Almost all the saints who serve the Lord have families. If they spent all their time with them, producing families that are like gardens of happiness and children who are like little angels, God's house would fall apart. This is a matter of consecration.
If our consecration is total, even our children may rise up to oppose us. None of the children of Western missionaries oppose their parents, because the missionaries care too much about their family. Some did not have servants in their own country, but when they came to China, they hired someone to cook, someone to take care of the children, someone to wash and clean, as well as a gardener, a driver, and even a guard. If we are truly consecrated, the first to oppose us will be our children.
For this reason, I question the consecration of missionaries who speak irresponsibly and sarcastically. Although they are servants of God, we should not learn from their lifestyle. It is undeniable that we must do our best to care for our family, but we also need to be sure about our consecration.
A certain brother has five children, and the group meeting for which he is responsible has over a hundred saints attending. If he only cares for his family, he will not be able to care for the brothers. If he only cares for the brothers, he will not be able to care for his family properly. It is difficult to take proper care of the group meeting and at the same time take proper care of the family. Caring for the group meeting requires the person entirely. We need to consider the group meeting even in our dreams.
If we copy Western missionaries in the way they care for their family, the result of our efforts for the church will compare to theirs. At certain critical times, they say: "Brothers, I can no longer do this work because I need to be with my children." We, on the other hand, cannot act like this because of our consecration. May God bless us so that our family receives mercy and care! However, we need to be warned that the conduct of some missionaries is not ours. They do not follow the way of consecration
WE ARE INCAPABLE OF SERVING THE LORD AND MAMMON
Brother T. Austin-Sparks once said that there are some problems with Western missionaries in institutionalized Christianity. We acknowledge that they traveled to a distant land for the love of Christ, but that does not mean that all the missionaries who came to China sacrificed and are consecrated.
I have no intention of condemning their lifestyle, but we need to know that the way of consecration results in many sufferings. Before we consecrate ourselves, we do not have many problems with studies, work, or family. But after we are consecrated, many problems arise.
Before we consecrate ourselves, we may have been good teachers, doctors, civil servants, parents, or children. However, the more we consecrate ourselves, the less capable we become, and the more problems we encounter. In a sense, the one who bothers people the most is Jesus; He is the one who led countless people to "shipwreck." Many talented people shipwrecked because of Him: many good students, many good teachers, many good parents were led to shipwreck by Jesus.
When I was in Manila, Philippines, a group of young people asked me to speak to them. My first sentence was: "Jesus leads people to shipwreck." The young people in Manila need to be shipwrecked by Jesus, and the Christian families of overseas Chinese in Manila need to be shipwrecked by Jesus.
Do not think that our work in Southeast Asia is welcomed by people. In the last few years, we have fought the battle every day. When I was in Manila in 1955, the brothers there respected me, held me in high regard, and treated me well; on the other hand, however, I was facing a battle with them.
I fought the battle regarding the "heaven." I wanted to eradicate the concept of "heaven" from their being. I told them that, as Christians, we should not think that the Christian life is about asking for blessings, longevity, peace, fearing the Lord, and not sinning. Nor is it about going to heaven to enjoy eternal blessings when we die. This kind of gospel may seem very attractive, but it refers entirely to a certain religious concept that considers Jesus simply a person a little more reliable than a Buddha.
For this reason, I was firm in fighting the battle regarding going to heaven. I showed them the words of the Lord in the Gospels: "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). This categorical word touched the hearts of those who loved the world.
At a love feast, I shared about how to read the Bible and pray in order to receive grace and answers to prayers, and to be the object of the Lord's mercy. A brother then asked me why I did not speak this way to all the saints, but instead about denying everything for the Lord and consecration. I immediately replied: "Dear brother, do you need me to preach messages that you could preach yourself?"
After the meal, I told the elders present that they needed to consider their condition. That they should not just say that the young people loved the world and had no reality; rather, they needed to consider their own condition. When they met me later, they felt ashamed. Those who love the world should feel ashamed.
That is why anyone who believes in Jesus will suffer shipwreck. All those who truly believe in Jesus will be shipwrecked by Him. They will not be corrupted by Jesus, but shipwrecked by Him. If young people want to follow Jesus, they will face problems at school. If it is a doctor, do not expect prosperity. Most of those who lead a smooth and prosperous life face problems regarding consecration.
A person capable of prospering as a doctor, making money as a businessman, becoming famous as a university professor, being recognized as the best student, or being an excellent father must have problems with consecration. A person can only have one Lord. If they are busy with their studies, there will be no room for Jesus, and if they are busy with Jesus, there will be no room for studies. Similarly, if they are busy with their children, there will be no space for Jesus, and if they are busy with Jesus, they will have no space for their children. Therefore, it is impossible for a person to serve the Lord properly and also be a good doctor or good father in the eyes of the world.
It is not difficult for a person to be respected, as long as they do not consecrate themselves. However, this does not mean that those who serve the Lord and preach the word should behave improperly. We need to behave in a respectable manner and worthy of praise from men when serving the Lord and preaching the word. If we want to be totally upright in our consecration, we must be prepared to live a life of suffering. This price has been placed before us, and we need to evaluate the cost.
Enjoy more: Hymn 152
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