Plain Talk Vol.11, No.7, Pg.1 - Cedar Park Church of Christ

Vol. 11, No. 7	September, 1974
*A Willing Mind*

Bro. Shipley told the Oaks-West church we did not want a “reluctant” teacher in a single one of our classes— and I said to myself, “There goes our teaching program!” I was reminded of the fellow who gave no more than a dime to the Lord because he couldn’t do it “scripturally;” i.e., willingly. But the classes continued, and our work is supported, because true saints have a “willing mind.”

God told Moses to take of Israel an offering “of every man whose heart maketh him willing.” (Ex. 25:2; 35:20) and of this to build the holy tabernacle The spiritual temple of the New Covenant is likewise built of material: people who submit their will to God’s will.

This initial submission includes the acceptance of obligations or duty and sometimes we must “buffet” our body (1 Cor. 9:27), lest the lure of immediate desires overshadow the more basic “will” to serve God. Perhaps Paul had this in mind when he said, “If I do this (preaching, rt) of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.”

(1Cor. 9:17) Would that all preachers felt so keenly their mission in life.

But submission to duty by no means satisfies the call of Christ. Elders are to rule “willingly” “of a ready mind.” Of the later, Vincent says “Willingly... Not strong enough. The word is compounded of... forward, and .heart or spirit. Hence.. .a forward spirit; denoting not mere willingness but zeal.” (On 1 Pet. 5:2) Paul waited word from Philemon re. Onesimus “that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.” (Phile. 14) Paul wrote re: benevolence, “If there be first a willing mind (as in 1 Pet. 5:2, “eagerness, zeal” rt) it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.” (2 Cor. 8:l2, 9:7)

Reluctance to serve Christ usually means there is something above Christ on your list of priorities: something you had rather do, or want more than you want His praise. This is shortsightedness. I can’t make you willing to prepare for heaven, but I can warn you that this is the only way.

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