Living in a large lake in Wisconsin, a very clever bull frog anticipated the long, freezing winter. He cogitated that he just could not take another winter even though he hibernated through most of it. He had heard from a toady friend that the South had temperate climes and a large variety of scrumptious bugs just for the gulping. The challenge was how to go from Wisconsin to the South. Then, a bright idea hit him.
He approached a couple of close friends, cranes who migrated every fall from the lake to the warm weather of the South. Taking a stick, he approached them with an incredible idea. “Friends,” he began, “we have known one another a long time. I want to go down south with you when you migrate and this is how we will do it. Each one of you take an end of the stick in your mouth and I will bite in the middle. You have enough power in your wings to fly south along with me as your passenger.” The cranes agreed and they departed the next week according to the frog’s strategy.
Everything worked fine until they arrived over Kentucky. There, a farmer looked up and witnessed the migration. He shouted up to them, “Who devised up this brilliant strategy?”
The frog replied, “It waassssmmmeeeeeee!”
The late president, Harry S. Truman, was credited with saying, “It is amazing what can be accomplished if we don’t worry about who gets the credit.”
Hollywood is well known for making sure everyone gets their fair-or more- share of credit. Do you ever remain long enough after a movie or TV program to read all the credits? The craft has made a multi-million industry on making sure everyone involved in a production gets their full share of recognition, even to the point of listing what company provided food for the production crew.
In contrast, the New Testament emphasizes that the Christian be willing to graciously serve without expectation of immediate recognition. Maturity or immaturity is a life challenge: needing immediate gratification or a willingness to live the long game of awaiting rewards later. In Col 3:23-24
Paul admonishes, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” That means Christians do not live for immediate recognition, for their commitment is to the Lord and His reward.
The challenge in our human need for recognition is, “How will I be acknowledged for what I have done?” This is a matter of both emotional and spiritual maturity.
The true mark of maturity is the ability to defer gratification. Babies do not want to wait for their bottles. Children want what they want when they want it. The teen years are especially challenging. Physical maturity is within sight, but teenagers still have to wait! Ever seen a sixteen year old who wasn’t ready for the first drivers’ license? And, that similar eagerness may be the principal reason for young marriage: “I am in love and I can’t wait!” We know what usually happens as a result.
In the early part of Acts 5, two Christians wanted recognition like others had received. In so doing, they lied to God about their gift and paid with their lives in front of their brethren.
Since it is the nature of most of us to want to be recognized, how is the mature Christian to address this need? Again, with spiritual maturity we must defer gratification. Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 15:18, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
What are some direct ways in which we can boost others in their Christian walk and thereby offer them some recognition?
First, let us pray for and encourage our elders. They “watch for our souls” and they must “give account” for their stewardship (Hebrews 13:17). How would you handle that great responsibility? How often do our elders get good news from their flock? They watch for wolves and the disorderly. They lead the church. They bear the burden of watching over our spiritual and physical welfare. They sometimes weep for us in prayer. They have to keep confidences that are sometimes heartbreaking. They are “where the buck stops” when it comes to leading their sheep. Have you ever encouraged them? Prayed for them?
Consider also our faithful Bible class teachers. Do you comprehend the time and personal study they invest in our children? They frequently forego their own spiritual enrichment from the Bible school program. They do so to teach Bible examples which shape and mold young lives. They give themselves for us; they mold souls! Yet, it is frequently the case that parents do not bother to take their children to class and to have them there on time for the complete lesson. What does that communicate about the spiritual care one has for his child? How often do we publicly and privately extend appreciation for all they do and for all they are?
In Acts 6, there was a challenge that the needs of some Christians were not being met. The apostles and elders made the wise decision to appoint several brethren who they termed “deacons,” as special servants to the church. The word actually means, “helper.” Our elders and the church call upon these men and their beautiful Christian wives to be of special service to the congregation. Each deacon has been assigned a special area of labor, but it is frequently the case that deacons assist in several areas of duty. While deacons do not work for the sake of recognition, nevertheless, the church needs to be aware of all they contribute and to honor their servants’ hearts.
Have you ever stopped to consider all that is done for the congregation to function effectively? The church office is a focal point of service and information. Someone has to care for the church’s financial obligations. All of us must contribute financially to keep the church going and growing. The building needs continual upkeep. Someone must carefully monitor our computers. The list could go on and on. The point is, we need to recognize that it takes a lot of effort for us to organize, work and grow as a church. There are no unimportant members.
We must ALL contribute; there are no “brilliant frogs!”
-Ken Smith