“What’s taking so long?” my five-year-old whined, wandering into the dining room and slumping into a chair. My wife responded from the stove, “If you would like dinner to be ready more quickly, you can help set the table, or pour water into the cups, or help your little sisters wash their hands.” Young children often expect things to be done according to their own timing and desires. When they’re not served the way they want to be served, they often throw a temper tantrum.
Sadly, sometimes Christians act like young children. They expect things to get done for them instead of finding opportunities to serve their church family. If the songs don’t fit their musical taste, or if the preaching doesn’t build them up, or if the fellowship doesn’t encourage them, they become overtly critical and eventually leave.
Don’t get me wrong, a church should edify its members. But that doesn’t mean it exists to serve the kingdom of Self.
Instead of thinking like a spiritual consumer, church members should think like spiritual contributors. I suspect that if every Christian saw themselves as contributors more than consumers, there would be fewer spiritual temper tantrums and more encouraging family gatherings.
To continue...read the full-length post originally published on this site.
