And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. [Acts 2:44-47 (NLT)]
Our cottage was near a charming little town known for its history, architecture, and resorts. A popular summer destination, its Main Street was flooded on weekends with tourists checking out the various stores. Chef I’s shop usually was bursting with browsers enjoying samples of his salsas, hot sauces, mustards, BBQ sauces, seasonings, rubs, marinades, fruit preserves, salad dressings, and dips. Although some tasters purchased a jar or two to take back home, they were just browsers. Having purchased something on a whim, they wouldn’t return unless they happened to come back to town.
Sometimes, we have people who are browsers in our churches. While they may pause for a sample, possibly show up on Easter and Christmas, or return when the mood hits, they are simply passing through. A church can’t count on the browsers to keep its doors open!
A little lunch café in our town was regularly patronized by Ron. Although it offered a wide variety of menu items, Ron went there specifically for their “Pig n’ Pineapple” sandwich (pork cutlet, pineapple slice, bacon, mozzarella, onion, and mayo). When the diner stopped serving it, Ron stopped patronizing them. Although he’d gone there regularly, he wasn’t a loyal regular. He didn’t care about the café—only the sandwich—and Ron never returned.
In our churches, we have people who are consumers like Ron. They find one thing they like but, rather than a sandwich, it may be the choir, music, youth group, vacation Bible school, worship time, food bank, or afternoon Bible study. If, for some reason, that thing changes, stops, or they no longer need or want it, like Ron, they disappear. For example, when our church met at the beach, some people regularly stopped and worshipped with us before taking their place in the sand immediately after service. Of course, we only saw them on good beach days and, when hurricane Ian closed the beach and dislocated us, they disappeared! We haven’t moved far, still meet outside, and have a lovely setting overlooking a lake but, since they were consumers who came more for the location than anything else, they didn’t follow us! Just as Ron abandoned a restaurant for lack of a sandwich, they abandoned our church for lack of a beach! They were no more committed to us than Ron was to that café. They were looking to be served rather than serve and to use rather than develop. A church needs more than consumers, it needs commitment.
My friend Maria started as a browser at a resort-wear shop known for its distinctive prints but, after trying on the clothing, she turned into a consumer. Even though everything wasn’t always to her liking, she became loyal to the brand. In fact, Maria became so committed to the store that she started working there. Taking advantage of her employee discount, she became a walking advertisement for the brand. Better than the discount, however, was discovering her knack for helping customers find the perfect outfit and her joy in doing so. Finding the business true to its core values of things like excellence, integrity, continued improvement, making the world a brighter place, and having fun in the process, Maria even took some of her earnings to purchase stock in it.
A church can’t survive on browsers and consumers—it needs people like Maria—people who become committed—who invest their time, talents, and finances in its success. Rather than mere consumers, they become participants, workers, and shareholders in their church. Like Maria, they may not find everything to be a perfect fit or design; nevertheless, they remain committed. Rather than discovering and employing hidden talents as did Maria, they can discover and use their spiritual gifts! Instead of receiving an employee discount or a dividend, people’s cups will overflow with spiritual blessings when they become shareholders in the church. Rather than being a walking advertisement for a clothing brand, they become walking advertisements for Christ and His church.
We are the “living stones” of God’s spiritual temple but we’re no more than bits of gravel when all we do is browse or occasionally stop and shop! Are you a browser, consumer, or a shareholder in God’s kingdom?
While walking in the Botanical Gardens, I left my husband on a bench by the lake while I went back to get a few more photos of the plumeria. After getting my last shot, I returned to find him gazing out at the water. When I disturbed his reverie with a touch on the shoulder, he looked up and said, “I was just enjoying Him!” I knew exactly who he meant.
When writing about Nehemiah recently, I thought about waiting. From the time he learned of Jerusalem’s broken-down walls until he spoke to the king, three months passed. Day in and day out, Nehemiah was at the king’s side but remained silent about his concern. Trusting that God would provide the opportune time, Nehemiah patiently waited at the king’s side until God provided the perfect moment when the king inquired about his cupbearer’s sadness. Had I been Nehemiah, would I have trusted God’s timing and kept silent for ninety days? What about you?
In the years following the exiles’ return to Judah and the rebuilding of the Temple, adherence to the Law grew lax. Knowing how to live a Jewish life depended on knowing the commandments of the Torah but the people had drifted away from God and His word and were committing the same sins that got them exiled! More than fifty years after the Temple’s rebuilding, Ezra arrived in Jerusalem. As a priest and teacher of the law, Ezra was shocked to find such disobedience. He tore his clothes and pulled his hair in sorrow before kneeling in prayer. He led the people in prayers of confession and repentance after which they swore a solemn oath to follow the Lord’s commands.
When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem, over ninety years had passed since the first of the exiled Jews had returned to Judah. Although the temple had been rebuilt for seventy years, Jerusalem’s city walls and gates were still in ruins. Nevertheless, within fifty-two days of his arrival, the walls were reconstructed and new gates installed. That Nehemiah managed to accomplish in less than two months what hadn’t been done in ninety years is a case study in Management 101.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell of the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Nearly fifty years after Jerusalem was destroyed, the first of the exiled Jews returned to the ruined city. Although his brother Hanani returned to Judah, Nehemiah, who served Persia’s King Artaxerxes as cup-bearer, didn’t. While his job included ensuring the safety of the king’s food and drink, Nehemiah was more bodyguard than waiter. In constant contact with the king, he served as both confidant and companion to Artaxerxes. He carried the king’s signet ring and possibly served as his chief financial officer.
