2012-04-27 - The Joys of Couponing

A week ago, a coworker came by to tell me about a coupon for family bowling. He was excited about this deal and mentioned that he had told a few other coworkers about this great offer. I am not a bowler so I wasn't excited about his deal but I know I have looked for bargains when a movie first comes out and both the manufacturer and a store have put coupons on the movie good for the first week. I have a list of a few people that I rush to tell when these bargains appear. Not everyone will get excited about that because not everyone likes to buy DVDs and Blu-Rays like I do.

But as a follower of God we know of a great deal that everyone should be interested in. Right now there is an offer on eternal life. I have read the coupon and it is an Buy none get one free offer. The expiration date has been obscured so presumably only the manufacturer can read it. But I sit and so many of us Christians sit on a stack of these coupons and are not excited to share the news with others.

What's up with that? What does it say about our priorities when we hold the secret to free, eternal, and abundant life in fellowship with our creator and we do not share the news with anyone.

Mark 16:15-16 (NIV) - He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

James 4:17 (NIV) - If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) - if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now let's connect the dots in these three verses. In Mark, Jesus says, "Here's a stack of coupons. Go share them." In James, God says, "Not doing what is good, like sharing the coupons, is a sin." And lastly, or chronologically firstly, "We need to seek him and turn from the sin of not sharing about him." American churches are largely plateaued or declining because we put other things before doing the good that we know we ought to do. We ask Jesus to help our economy and help our nation but we ignore what he says.

What's up with that?

IHFHBOH
Adam

2015-09-11
2016-06-17

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