Garry continued the theme of our ‘Do Something Sunday’, reminding us that the complacency of fools will destroy them. (Prov 1:32) Complacency is a great danger to the church, for if we are complacent, we are satisfied with how things are and feel there is no need to do any more. It is foolish to be complacent, however, because change is inevitable and we are built to ‘do something’ – work was part of God’s original plan for mankind. (Gen 2:15)
Jer 29:4-7 reminds us that God urged His people, even in exile, to seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which they had been carried. Instead of being negative and critical, we are urged to speak well (Eph 4:29-30). Daniel and his friends took this word to heart and worked well in Babylon, gaining high positions and seeking the prosperity of the place in which they lived. So often, Christians have been involved in doing something to change situations that were unfair or unjust: the Tolpuddle Martyrs (who were transported to Australia for forming an early trade union to right wrongs in the workplace) were led by a Methodist lay preacher, George Loveless; Keir Hardie (the first leader of the Labour Party) was a lay preacher who was driven into political activisim and sustained in it by his faith.
BMBC’s ‘Love Where You Live’ campaign is very Biblical. We are called to do something here, where we live. Matt 9:36-10:1 reminds us that Jesus said the harvest was plentiful, but the workers few; Not only are we called to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field, we are the ones God will use! We have the advantage of working with God; we are not on our own.
Jn 4:35 reminds us that the fields are ripe for harvest now. Eccl 9:10 reminds us to do whatever our hand finds to do with all our might. God has good plans for us, plans that are ‘tailor-made’ for us (Jer 29:11, Eph 2:10) It may be that God wants us to do new things, to be creative, to stretch and develop our faith. One thing is for sure. We need to ‘do something’!
