*DISCLAIMER: I am not looking for a pat on the back in response to this article. It is my intention with this article to simply stir up your thoughts. I am in no way condemning those of you who hang up on telemarketers. I too use that same decisive action from time to time. I also realize some might think this is "hokie"… well, at least you are thinking about something!
I was absolutely right about not being interested. He began describing some lesson material on DVD that was developed about marriage. He was trying to get me to "partner up" with their organization and have a "risk-free" review of the material. Knowing some of the denominational names that he was mentioning, I was definitely not interested in doing that. Besides, I was in the middle of my study!
He finally got to the point of asking me whether I wanted his wares. I said no thanks, I'm not interested. Then, in a manner of voice as though he was about to bestow some sort of gift on me, he posed this question:
"Well, pastor [minister, D.H.], is there anything that God has laid on your heart, maybe that you've been praying about, resources for your church?"
I was confounded by this question. I know that God speaks to me today through his written word (cf. Heb. 1:1-> John 16:13-15-> 2 Pet. 1:20-21-> Eph. 3:1-7-> 1 Timothy 4:13-> 2 Tim. 2:15-> 3:16-17) so I don't know what he would have laid on my heart that he didn't lay out in His Word. I don't say this to poke fun at the man, or of those who say such things. I sincerely didn't know how to answer this question. SO, I politely said:
"I'm not really sure how to answer that question. I'm in the middle of a study right now. Thanks for calling though!"
As he got off the phone with me, obviously disappointed that I wasn't going to try to buy what he was trying to sell, he made a statement that struck me in a way that I had never thought of before.
He simply said, "Well, God bless you for being honest, and have a nice day."
It wasn't the prospect of receiving any kind of blessing from this man or God that struck me, but rather why he said it. He knew I was being honest. Why was this important to me? He was calling the Sweetwater church of Christ. He knew it and I knew it. I was a representative of the Lord's church to that man. I'm immediately reminded of what we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:12. The preceding verses deal with an honest manner of life. The NKJV renders the beginning of that verse as "…that you may walk properly toward those who are outside…" but I like the KJV in this case. It states this:
"That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." (1 Thessalonians 4:12 KJV)
We should walk honestly before others. What a concept. Paul also writes that we are to:
"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time." (Colossians 4:5, NKJV)
Redeeming the time is an interesting phrase. It carries the idea of buying up time and then freeing it for a better purpose. It could also be very simply phrased this way: Don't waste your time! Waste my time how? In walking improperly before those who are outside the church! That's interesting in the context of this phone call.
What constitutes a waste of time? Well, many would have decided that entire phone call was a waste of time. My consolation, though, is the following:
That man knew who he was calling. He was calling the Sweetwater church of Christ. He knew he was talking to the minister, Daniel. He knows that Daniel didn't quite know how to respond to the concept of God "laying something" on his heart, which could possibly stir him to think about why I might have been confused. He now knows for sure, though, is that Daniel, a Christian, and the minister of the Sweetwater church of Christ is… honest. That's more than he knew about the Sweetwater congregation a few minutes ago, and thus, a little more that he knows about the Lord's church!
May we always take care with our influence and be sure to "redeem the times"!
-Daniel Howell
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