Tidings for Tuesday
But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you. Galatians 4:18
I can still feel the sting of the chalkboard brush that caught me just below the ear. Enraged, I seized the brush, jumped to my feet, and was in the process of hurling it back at the lad who had flung it at me when my eye caught sight of the teacher, who had just walked in the back door, glowering at me. She had been gone for only a couple of minutes. But the instant she was out the door, bedlam broke out in the little one-room school. Students began flinging books, pieces of chalk, and anything else we could find, at each other. One girl did an impromptu dance on top of her desk. One boy dashed to the teacher’s desk, and swiped a handful of the cod liver oil pills that we received each morning. Hoots and whistles filled the air. After the teacher returned, and after she had restored order and had administered the appropriate punishments, she reminded us that we were in school to learn, and her absence should not have prompted a departure from our diligent attention to our lessons. Most of us have experienced such an outbreak when a teacher leaves the classroom. Unfortunately, such behaviour also affects us into adulthood, and even among Christians.
As Paul reminds the Galatians about being zealous about good things, he also reminds them that such zeal should be evident whether he is in Galatia or not. <BR> Does our zeal for the things of the Lord increase or decline, based on who is around us? Does the list of preachers make any difference to whether we attend a conference or go to an Assembly event? Do we respond enthusiastically when a preacher asked for help but make excuses when it is somebody else who needs a hand? Being zealous for good things is always commendible. But the preacher or the elder can’t always be available to provide you the incentive to get moving. But Paul says we should get moving anyway.
Are there Gospel tracts or calendars to distribute? Are there visits to shut-in saints that should be done? Are there chores around the Hall that need to be tended to? If we look, we can always find something important to do, and few people available to help. Who needs to be looking over our shoulders in order for us to get up and do those things.
Zeal in the things of God is commendable. Such zeal on our own initiative is even better. -Jim MacIntosh