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 Each
morning as a certain man dressed for work he noticed a feeling
of tightness in his throat and a decided flush in his face,
although his temperature was normal. He consulted a doctor who,
finding no physical problem, suggested he see a psychiatrist.
"Perhaps it is the stress of the job that is getting to
you."
Lengthy
and costly treatments gave him no relief, so he turned to
internal medicine. His body chemistry was tuned by special
diets, vitamins, and essence of sea-weed — to no avail. The
tightness in his throat, and the redness of face returned each
morning as he dressed for work. Finally, in desperation, he
endured exploratory surgery. He felt quite well at the hospital,
but as soon as he returned to his home and job the symptoms
reoccurred. So, it seemed clear that he had some terminal
disease, beyond the reach of science; and he began to set his
house in order to die.
He
decided to take a last-time vacation trip, and went to a
department store for a new shirt, size 15-33. The salesman took
him to the 15-33 counter, but, looking him over, suggested he
should buy a 16-33. This irritated the sick man, and he said,
"Look, I am in no mood for such talk. I have always worn
15-33, and I want a 15-33 shirt." To
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which the salesman replied, "No
offense intended sir. We will sell you what you want; but I'm
telling you, it will make your face turn red, and your eyes bug
out."
In
our infatuation with big and complicated solutions to problems,
we may be overlooking the obvious simple answers. Inflation
might be cured if we would work harder for less money. Thousands
of dollars are spent on elaborate Gospel Campaigns to do what a
few personal workers could accomplish in after-work hours. A
proper understanding of the Great Commission will answer volumes
of theology.
Sometimes
the solution seems complicated or even impossible, because we
have not gotten to the bottom of the problem. If a man does not
want to believe in God he will not see the mass of evidence
presented. We waste our time in argument, when it is persuasion
that is needed. Unconverted members will not serve the Lord, no
matter how much social "fellowship" one shares with
them.
There
are red-faced churches that have tried every way to succeed —
except, "loosen collar and go to work."
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