I watched a carpenter remodel some things in my home. This man’s measurements were very precise. I watched in amazement as he fixed, replaced, and repaired things to a condition so polished that the original builders would have been envious.
Like a professional chess player, this master builder would think several steps ahead in his calculations. As I watched him work, I wondered what mathematical projections must be going through his mind. Then, he would do his “magic” and produce beautiful work.
The Details of Our Spiritual Improvement While watching him work, I began thinking of how we spiritual teachers should be more precise in our dealings with the spiritual condition of people. If we give such attention to the details of our home improvement, shouldn’t we give even greater attention to the details of our spiritual improvement?
His Tape Measurer This carpenter referred constantly to his tape measurer. He had an attachment on his belt that held his tape measurer. So, while he was not using it, his tape measurer remained attached to his person. Whenever he needed to measure something, he would reach to that place on his belt, draw it from its place, and measure the item in question. Not only did he have immediate and constant access to his tape measurer, he also handled the tape measurer in such a way as to produce confidence in me, the one who was paying him for his labor. Whereas it might have taken me minutes to measure a certain item, and then I would not be certain of my conclusions, this man would measure an item within seconds, and then he would cut the item with professional certainty.
Our Tape Measurer We Christians have a “tape measurer” by which to measure our spiritual condition. That “tape measurer” is called the Bible. We should be as proficient with our Bibles as this carpenter was with his tape measurer. Not only is the Bible our tape measurer showing us where we are short in areas (Romans 3:23), it also prescribes for us those things that we must do to be in line with God and His will. Concerning our biblical proficiency, the Apostle Paul says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15—NIV).
The Bible has been the most severely persecuted book in the world. On more than one occasion, people have attempted to wipe the Bible out of existence. The French philosopher Voltaire was the most influential figure of the French Enlightenment. He said that the Bible had outlived its usefulness and within 100 years it would be extinct except for a few copies in museums. However, within 50 years after Voltaire’s death in 1778, his house was turned into a storehouse for Bibles. And, today, the Bible is the best selling book of all time. It appears that God has been protecting His book, with a twist of irony and humor.
As I said, the Bible, is our “tape measurer.” It is our only sure “tape measurer” for our faith and practice. We should not just guess at what is right and wrong, or good or bad. We should refer to the Bible constantly and measure our lives and our actions by it. Last but not least, we pastors, teachers, counselors, and leaders should be as expert with our “tape measurer” as a master builder is with his.
A Matter of Attitude I did find one thing that the builder did both distressing and interesting. Just 1/32 of an inch isn’t much, but it made the difference between having a mirror installed in our bathroom correctly and having it installed incorrectly. Our builder messed up our mirror. Not only that, but he messed up another job in the bathtub. Now, of course, I found these errors distressing. But, I also found them interesting because this man knew better. His errors were not based in his lack of knowledge or ability, but rather it was in his attitude. When questioned about these errors, he never said, “Oh, I didn’t know how to do that.” What he said rather flippantly was, “Oh well, there are always a few screw ups in every job.”
So, while this man had the ability to do everything correctly, he didn’t have the desire. I wonder how he would have done the jobs had they been in his own home. I also wonder how many capable Christian leaders get sloppy with other people’s lives?
I have, sadly, seen Christian leaders “minister” irresponsibly to people. They either didn’t take the adequate time with them, or they gave them pat answers instead of dealing with the real issues. Yet, these same ministers would never treat their own family members in such a lackadaisical way.
The first thing that we as leaders need, as stated above, is expertise with our “tape measurer” (the Bible), but we should never get sloppy and have an attitude of, “Oh well, there are always a few screw ups in every job.”
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood (Acts 20:28).
Send comments about this, or any, Coffee Talk to Rick Walston at: CES - @ - ColumbiaSeminary.edu
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