Those Who Do and Those Who Don’t
A high school coach informed his team, “There are two words that I better not hear from this team. Those words are ‘can’t’ and ‘won’t.’ If you say you can’t do something I tell you, then I’ll tell you that you never tried. If you say you won’t do something, then I can’t use you: you just don’t care enough to be on this team!” His teams were quite successful because this philosophy encouraged his players to do their best and nothing less!
In the Lord’s kingdom, the inspired writer Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) The statement obviously limits us to the things of righteousness, for we must do all things by His authority (Colossians 3:17). The statement also eliminates our ability to say, “I can’t” or “I won’t.” If we say we can’t, we have not tried. And if we say we won’t, we are defiant toward our Lord!
When we see souls get out of their “comfort zone” and at least try to do something for the Lord, that stands as one of the greatest encouragements we receive! Rather than criticize their attempt, we need to encourage them to do it again, and next time improve on what they just did! It is called GROWTH, and the Lord’s church needs GROWTH. From being song leaders to becoming preachers, from simply reading the scriptures publicly to praying and officiating at the Lord’s Table, attempts to try these works are much better than not trying at all!
The same is true of teaching bible classes. Through the years, it has been “traditional” for women to teach the very young. Unfortunately, very few women are willing to even try to teach this challenging age group. Some foolishly think those forty-five minutes are nothing more than “babysitting” instead of instructing those children in the basic things of getting acquainted with God and His word. Why would they think so? Because they have either said, “I can’t” or “I won’t,” and therefore express unconcern. We could say the same of women who have never prepared communion or endeavored to be a “Phebe” assisting the work within the local church (Romans 16:1-2). It is always better to try and learn from the experience than not to try and be as one who does not care!
Paul also said, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10) Opportunities do not always “just appear.” Often, we must make opportunities: at the very least, we need to look for them and take advantage of them! Christians must never say or think, “I can’t” when given the occasion to express the greatness of God’s goodness in us. We do this by word and by deed. Saying, “I can’t,” expresses a weakness that we must not have in Christ. (1 Peter 5:10) And as we have shown, saying, “I won’t,” expresses defiance toward the God of our salvation.
Still, some do, and others do not. ‘Tis the way of mankind – but it is not the way of the Lord. Think of David while he was but a ruddy youth. (1 Samuel 17:42) Even those of greater abilities and experience refused to meet Goliath. David, however, said, “The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37). David said, “I can!” when the others said, “We can’t,” or “We won’t.”
As a Christian, are you one that WILL or one that WON’T? Will you go forth and DO, or remain aloof, never trying, and eventually failing to please God in anything?