Jump Start # 3657

Acts 13:36 “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers, and underwent decay.”

His name was Lee, and he was my friend. He was one of three shepherds that invited me to come and work with the people of God in New Albany more than sixteen years ago.  He was a businessman. He was a gifted leader. He was a friend of God. Multiple times, he opened up his home for gatherings. Always learning, he brought a fresh perspective to the eldership. He led a group of men in a mentoring program that he paid for out of his own pocket. The family sold the business that he and his brothers operated for decades. And because of that, he had the two elements that most people long for in life—time and money.

Oh, the things we’d like to do, if we only had the time. Life can be so busy. Places we’d like to go, books we’d like to read, things we’d like to do, but there are too many other things requiring our time. Some, have the time, but they do not have the resources. Tight budgets limits what they can do. To have both the time and the money, wouldn’t that be nice!

Lee had them both. Retired, he now had the time. Selling the family business, he now had the resources. Instead of spending his days in a boat fishing or on a golf course, or even jet setting around the world, he decided to go back to school. He earned an MBA. Not just any MBA, but an MBA in entrepreneurship. When I heard that I wondered a loud to him, “Why? You are already an entrepreneur.” But, he had plans. He had a dream and a goal.

He went to a small college in Florida and started teaching business classes. He spent his time touching hearts and shaping young minds to enter the complex business world with godliness and righteousness. His days were spent teaching demanding college classes, writing lesson plans, grading papers, studying, research, sitting in meetings and listening to the complaints and excuses of young people. Most would run from that. His example touched more lives than his actual teaching. He didn’t need to teach. He didn’t need the money. He had spent a lifetime working. Most would say, it’s time to slow down, catch your breath and do what you want to do. He was doing just that, what he wanted to do.

I’ve come to believe that it’s in the DNA of that family. His parents impacted so many lives through their years of godly living. One of his brothers, who also retired with him, took up preaching. Not an life of leisure nor the dream that many retirees would want.

A few days ago, the Lord called Lee home. It was quick, unexpected and shocking to all that knew him. His family and friends gathered to remember a life well lived. A school paused to honor a dedicated servant. A church saw the steps of a good man.

It was said that his heart went bad, but we know better. His heart, in many ways, was so much better than ours. Medically, there was a problem. But, spiritually, there was such an amazing example. How many of us reach retirement age,  and decide to spend the rest of our time playing and doing what we feel like doing? With time, talent, opportunity and often, resources, how much of a gift senior saints could be to a home congregation. But the problem is, they are rarely home. They on the road, sightseeing and having fun.

Our verse today reminds us that David served the purpose of God in his generation. Maybe we don’t have the energy we once did. Maybe we can’t do all that we once did. However, when I think about my friend, Lee, and the choices he made, it sure makes one wonder if we have just laid down the sword and given the kingdom to others. There are a lot of congregations that could sure use the wisdom of older Christians. There are a lot of places that need godly shepherds. Can’t do it, some say. Gotta run to the beach. Then, gotta visit a few parks. Then gotta see the grandkids. Then gotta watch some TV.

Most would say, why? However, my Lee saw it as a grand opportunity to teach young hearts the Biblical way of navigating in today’s business environment. Paul told the Philippians, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near” (4:5). Those that got in the vicinity of Lee were made better because of his gentle spirit.

I am so thankful that I worked with him and beside him for so many years. I loved his ideas that he brought to the table. I loved his tender heart and compassionate way of helping people. I was strengthened to see him stand with the Lord.

Finding ways to help others. That’s what this is all about. Help guide young preachers. Help those newly married couples. Help those young parents. Help in leading God’s people. The rest that God promises follows a labor that we have been committed to. I wonder if some need no rest, because they have so rarely labored in the kingdom. Oh, they’ve been busy, just busy doing what they felt like and what they wanted to do.

Selfless, serving, committed—that’s the way Jesus was. That’s the way I’ll always remember Lee as.

Our lives intersected, and I was made the better.

Thank you, Lord.

Roger

Jump Start # 3656

Acts 14:23 “When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

They appointed elders for them in every church. What a joyous and monumental occasion this was. This is part of God’s design. Sheep need shepherds. They need direction, guidance, care and protection. What is so amazing about this passage is how quickly this was done. Reese in his writings believes that these men may have been leaders in the synagogues before this. Roper in his piece on Acts, thinks these men had been Christians only a few months. Lipscomb shows how Paul had been there and left for a year or two and then came back and appointed these men as elders. Any way you look at it, all of this happened in a short period of time.

And, then we think about our times. Some congregations go decades, even generations without elders being appointed. How is it that they could do this so quickly and we can’t? Let’s put some honest thought behind this.

First, it may be that some are comfortable and even like the situation without elders. In the absence of elders, most congregations have some form of business meetings, where the business of the church is discussed. Every person, or at least, every male member, young or old, strong or weak, gets a vote and has a say. The government of the church looks more like a democracy and some fear having elders would take away all of this.

God’s design is for qualified men to lead the flock. That’s the way God wants it. And, when we don’t, we are not in the same lane with the Lord.

Second, it may be that we have made the appointment of elders a near impossibility. We’ve added our thoughts to what is written in Timothy and Titus and are looking for men who are as close to perfect as can be. And, since no one is perfect, other than the Lord, no elders will be appointed. I think many today would have raised doubts about what happened here in our verse. They haven’t been Christians long enough. The apostle didn’t think so. They need to know the people better. The apostle didn’t see it that way. Just bring up the subject of “believing children,” and the sparks will fly with so many different opinions. And, that just may be the problem. Opinions. Maybe we ought to just let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

Third, it may be that bad experiences in the past have led some to distrust leaders. Oppressive and demanding leaders is not what the Lord is looking for. A shepherd, like in Luke 15, who brings that wayward sheep home, wrapped around his neck. A shepherd, like the father in Luke 15, who runs out to meet the prodigal, not with a thousand questions, but with the call for a celebration.

Bossing others may be the way to driven cattle, but we are sheep. We need to follow shepherds. The shepherds must be in the forefront, showing us the way. They need to be the example for us. It’s easy to be gun shy once one has had a bad experience in the past. There have been false teachers in the past. That doesn’t keep us from having a preacher.

From what Paul would write to Timothy and Titus later on, we can well assume that he did not randomly pick a group of guys, like picking who you want on a game of basketball. These men were spiritual. These men loved the Lord. These men had a heart of serving and leading. And, today, we must do more than just march through the qualifications of an elder as found in Timothy. We ought to understand what leading means. We need to learn how to recognize spiritual disease and understand how to prevent it.

Sadly, far too many places never talk about shepherding or elders until there is a crisis. An elder moves away. An elder dies. Panic races through the church. The preacher pulls out some dusty sermons on the qualifications and quickly some names are put on the floor to be possible elders. Those guys often don’t have a clue as to what being a shepherd means. A couple of weeks pass by, a name or two survives the intense nit-picking that often takes place and they are appointed. The church breathes a great sigh of relief. Everything is put back on the shelf until the next elder crisis.

Does that sound all too familiar? Maybe it’s time to readjust how we study, talk and discuss this subject. Maybe long before men are ready, that they are talked to, shown things and sit with elders for a while. Maybe more of mentoring approach would be better. Maybe every year, different layers of shepherding ought to be presented to the congregation. Maybe the culture needs to change and rather than viewing serving like being drafted into the military, the honor, privilege and joy of helping and leading God’s people needs to be shown.

Appointed elders in every church…sure is something to think about.

Roger