I
remember years ago, when I’d only been in Greenville, AL for a year or two, I
was discouraged about some indifference in those I was trying to teach. I
was feeling like a failure because I just couldn’t convince all the youth to “buy into” what we were
trying to do here. I took this
discouragement to Jerry Barr and I’ve always remembered what he said to me. He
said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
He
further explained to me that he had almost driven himself into a deep
depression in the past because, as an elder, he was responsible for every soul
at the Walnut St. church of Christ, and there were always those who stood on
the outside, never giving their lives completely to God. But Jesus Himself
tells us that there will always be more people on the wide way that leads to
destruction.
This
isn’t a white flag, give up on the sinners and hypocrites message. On the
contrary, Jesus’ point…and Jerry’s point, was that living for God is a
full-time commitment. To stay on that strait and narrow way, takes wholehearted
service. It is a big responsibility to keep OURSELVES in the love of God (Jude
1:21), and to bear our OWN burdens (Galatians 6:5). Then we also must turn our
attention to the interests and burdens of others (Philippians 2:4; Galatians
6:2).
This
concern that we MUST feel for others is healthy and needed for our own
spiritual wellbeing. But we mustn’t let
it consume us to the extent that we become discouraged and unfaithful
ourselves. As noted above, Paul taught that there are burdens and sins that we
can help one another bear, but the final burden (Judgment) we must bear alone.
(Romans 14:10)
----Darrell
Powell
