Parking On Someone Else's Nickel

It’s summer, I’m lazy and my computer is giving me fits, soooo, I’m borrowing a couple of articles from the Bulletin Digest to share with you this week. I’m also realigning my daily schedule a little bit to continue fitting in time for strength and cardio exercise. Any-Time-Fitness is a good deal. I’ll let you know how good in weeks to come.

Parking On Someone Else’s Nickel by Larry Fitzgerald: In the old days, cities regulated downtown parking with meters. (I can remember my father having a fit over parking meters when they were introduced in our small town and how he gave instructions to my mother on what to do if the time ran out and the red flag popped up before he returned to the car.) You park, drop in a nickel or dime and get some time on the meter. Then you’d go into the store and be sure to be back before the meter ran out of time. However, occasionally, you could find a spot with time left on the meter. In that case, you would “park on someone else’s nickel!” Someone has said: “We eat from orchards we did not plant. We drink from wells we did not dig. We reap from fields we did not sow. We are warmed by fires we did not kindle. We are sheltered by roofs we did not build. We are blessed by moneys we did not give.” In the Lord’s Church, each person has job. That’s Paul’s point in 1 Cor. 12. We have a responsibility to our congregation to use our talents to help the Lord’s Church grow. Are you using your talents, time and resources for the Lord? Or are you simply parking on someone else’s nickel? Consider these verses: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10). “… serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13b). “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).

We Need Each Other by Jeremy Tucker: There is an indelible and universal truth as it pertains to the church. We need each other. In fact, the Bible is adamantly clear that without the contribution of each member, the church does not properly function. Thus is the substance of Paul’s discussion in 1 Corinthians 12. The church in Corinth struggled with supremacy. There were those who possessed the most coveted and thereby most respected spiritual gifts, and to those they bestowed greater honor. Within the church, they were considered the most important. To dispel such a divisive notion and to promote unity, Paul makes some assertions. Notice what he says in 1 Corinthians 12:19-22, “And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” Why? Because truthfully, if we all possessed the same talents, the same abilities, the same strengths and even weaknesses; where would the body be? The answer is simple. It would be lacking what you can contribute whether great or small. You see brethren, the truth of the matter remains indelible. We need each other. Therefore, let us conclude that although you may not be able to do what others can; there is no gift given by God that is not both useful and beneficial to the grow and vitality of this congregation. So, by all means, contribute!