What’s in it for Me?

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him (that is unto God) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Some years ago while working in the corporate office of an electric utility there was an occasion where I asked for $350,000 dollars for a project. There is always that time during budget season when the gloves come off as requests are made for funding. In reality, I did not expect to get money for the project. However, I learned something extraordinary when asking. The Chief Executive Officer looked at me and asked, “What’s in it for me?”

His compensation is based on whether or not the company earns a profit. His question was short and to the point, he wanted to know how much money he would make if the project was funded. When money is involved the CEO wants to know how much more is returned to him in the way of a bonus.

We felt we had a good idea; that of automating company inventory with bar¬codes. However, the idea turned out to be the sacrificial lamb of the budget season. They considered it at first, but later the project was dropped.

We sometimes forget that the Church is not about us, but rather about Christ. Jesus had one goal, and that was to seek and save that which was lost. Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus didn’t do a lot of earthly things while on the earth. He did not resolve income inequality, He did not lift all the poor out of poverty. He did not universally heal all the sick nor did he free the Hebrews from Roman rule. His focus was on the salvation of those souls which do not believe in Him.

The importance of the soul comes into play here. Jesus said in Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” This means that your soul is worth more than freedom from oppressive rule, being free from sickness, or having a share of wealth.

In Second Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” It bears repeat¬ing once again: Church is all about Jesus. When the church is in alignment with the heart of Christ, we honor and glorify Him in spirit and truth. John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” When we pursue the passion and goals of Christ, we are doing His ultimate will for the Father.

In Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Further in Philippians 1:27 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gos¬pel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

This is where the individual and the church take on the mind of Christ to do things as He would. Remember WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? Now you know. Think about it; the church cannot resolve income inequality in the world, we cannot universally feed the world, nor can we resolve tyrannical dictatorships in the world. We can, however, pray for these people that Christ would intervene.

But our prayers, gifts, offerings, efforts, and passion should be the same as Christ, “to seek and to save that which was lost.” If the church functioned as an earthly business, the profit would be measured in the number of souls saved. The continuing business would be to guide these souls in the nurture and admonition of the LORD.

When Jesus asks “what’s in it for me?” The answer is souls for the Kingdom. The church needs to be wise in its operation, but also to completely give itself to the mission of Christ.

See you in church. ---Bro. Louis