The Opposite Of Consumers
I recently sent out a survey to gather information from a variety of individuals.
In the survey, I explained that we’re doing a teaching series called “Old School Remix” at the church. One of the things we hope to accomplish is to honor the best parts of our past (related to church life and church people over the past 50 years).
Here is one of the survey questions:
Q. What are some of the qualities or values given to us by those who paved the way before us?
The responses were excellent. I was given some great material to work with.
There was, however, one answer I can’t stop thinking about…
Speaking of his grandparents, he said, “They were the opposite of consumers.”
The survey-respondent went on to describe how his grandparents were faithful, loyal, dedicated, devoted, committed—they volunteered and served and gave.
They were the opposite of consumers.
That quality reminds me of Nehemiah in the Bible. As he led the charge to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he said…
“I devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands.” (Nehemiah 5.16, 17)
He was the opposite of a consumer.
I was also reminded of the original old school church—from the book of Acts…
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals, and to prayer.” (Acts 2.42)
They were devoted. Committed. Faithful. Dedicated. They served. They gave.
They were the opposite of consumers.
We have something to learn from those who paved the way before us.
Of course we can’t get in a time machine and go back.
And that’s not the point.
We can take the best hits of the past forward with us.
We too, can be the opposite of consumers.
QUESTION:
What comes to your mind when you think of the best qualities and/or values from those who paved the way before us? What do you appreciate about your parents or grandparents or great-grandparents generation? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
I am a husband, father, pastor, leader & reader. I love God, love people & love life.
I appreciate that my parents were church goers no matter what. There was no question about whether we go to church. It may have been added with a dose of guilt, but there was never a conversation about not going. It never entered my mind. Now as an adult, I have the same mind set. We go to church on Sundays. If we are out of town, we still try to find a church to attend. I have been able to grow past the guilt of not attending, but I really appreciate the consistency it formed. I see so many struggling Christians who are not plugged into a church. I thank God that I don’t have to deal with the question of, do we go to church this weekend? Also, I am thankful that my husband is in agreement.
I grew up going to church while on vacation too. I have some fun memories of interesting churches around the country. Thankful for the faithfulness of my parents.