OceanSide church of Christ

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BE PREPARED!

Victor M. Eskew

 

            When this writer was in his teens, he was in the Boy Scouts.  There were several things that a new scout was supposed to memorize.  One of these was the Scout Motto.  It was simple, but expressed an essential for success in life:  Be prepared!

            This isn’t just a motto for a Boy Scout.  It is also a motto that every Christian should incorporate into his/her life.  In Matthew 25, Jesus proclaims three parables that involve the Judgment.  The first is a very familiar parable entitled:  “The Parable of the Ten Virgins.”  Five of the virgins are classified as wise.  The other five are referred to as being foolish.  What distinguishes them from one another is preparation.  “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps” (Matt. 25:3-4).  Had the bridegroom come at the set time, both groups would have been fine.  But, we are told:  “the bridegroom tarried” (Matt. 25:5).  It was this that necessitated their having a need for additional oil for their lamps.  Since the foolish did not prepare well enough, they had to go to them that sold oil to get more.  “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:  and the door was shut” (Matt. 25:10).  When the foolish virgins returned, they were not allowed to enter the marriage feast.  They were left without.  Jesus, then, makes the application in Matthew 25:13.  “Watch therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”  Jesus is exhorting his hearers to prepare themselves for His Second Coming.  It is imperative for all to be ready.  “…and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast…” (Matt. 25:10).

            Almost all Christians understand the need to be prepared for the Judgment.  Hopefully, we are giving diligence in all areas of our Christian life to stand before the Christ on the last day.  There are other times when Christians need to be prepared as well.  Sadly, we do not think about these nearly as much.  Let’s look at a couple of illustrations.  At OceanSide the elders have asked all men who take a public role in worship to wear a tie.  Those who have been assigned a role are usually ready on their day of service.  They wear their tie and fulfill their obligation properly.  However, there are times when one or two men who are supposed to serve are not here.  When this happens, many of the men are not prepared to serve.  Since they are not on the list of those leading in worship, they do not wear a tie.  Because they are not prepared, they cannot be called upon to assist when someone is absent.  One would think that all Christian men would want to be ready to help in the worship service at a moment’s notice.  Such, however, is not the case.  We can argue long and hard about the requirement to wear a tie.  The fact is that elders have the authority to make this decision.  If a man is going to be prepared to assist in the worship, he will wear a tie.  He will be able to say at any and every service:  “Here am I, send (use) me.” 

            Another application of “be prepared” involves being ready to teach a Bible class.  Sometimes situations arise in a congregation when a teacher does not show up to class.  That teacher has not called anyone to tell them of his/her absence.  This means that a class is left without a teacher.  Prepared Christians will come ready to teach a class if necessary.  They will have a lesson tucked in the back of their Bible.  If called upon to teach, they can slip into the classroom and present a much needed lesson to their students.  It may not be part of the curriculum, but it is a Bible-based lesson that can be applied to their students’ lives.  It is sad when no one is ready to teach.  A class of young people has to sit in the auditorium with the adults.  They are often lost and bored.  A prepared teacher could have changed all of this. 

            Dear brethren, we try to prepare for so many areas of our lives.  We prepare for a job by getting education and training.  We prepare for marriage by learning God’s will for marriage and seeking the right partner.  We prepare for retirement by saving and investing our money properly.  We need to use our ability to prepare in order to be ready to be useful in the Lord’s service.  We just do not know when an opportunity might present itself to serve.  If we are ready, we can easily volunteer.  If we are not ready, we just have to sit on the sideline.  Sadly, some do not seem to be bothered by being on the sidelines.  Having someone else do what they could be doing does not bother their conscience at all.  Question:  Does the Lord notice when we refuse to prepare to serve?

            When I think of a person who was prepared for service, I think of Timothy.  His mother and his grandmother prepared him to labor in the kingdom of God.  His preparation began when he was just a child.  Of Timothy, Paul wrote:  “And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 3:15).  This early training that Timothy received prepared him to obey the gospel on Paul’s first missionary journey.  When Paul came through Lystra on his second journey, Timothy was also prepared to go with the apostle.  “Then came he to Derbe and Lytra:  and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:  which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.  Him would Paul have to go with him…” (Acts 16:1-3). 

            Dear readers, let’s determine to be like those wise virgins and the young Timothy.  Let’s prepare ourselves to be actively involved in the Lord’s work.  Let’s prepare our Bible school lessons and be ready to participate in class.  Let’s prepare an additional lesson and be ready to assist a teacher who is absent.  Let’s put on the proper clothes that will prepare us to assist in our worship services if needed.  Let’s prepare our hearts for that day when we must stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give an account of all our actions in this life.  As the old scout motto says:  “Be Prepared!”