WHO SHOULD I SUPPORT?
To support a Missionary is to fund the greatest campaign in the world.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. 3 John 1:8
The fierce race of the 2016 elections can be seen in the amount of money that was spent for the presidential and congressional campaigns; over 16.5 billion, with a B, dollars. That’s more than the winner wants to build a border defense along our southern border. But if you spend a lot of money, will anyone change their minds because of it? According to an article from 2018, Rick Perry’s 2006 re-election campaign for Texas governor, advertising did produce a pro-Perry response in the markets that received ads. But it fizzled fast. Within a week after ads stopped running, it was like no one had ever seen them. So what makes the difference? Core values!
With all of the Missionaries calling, sending emails, and information packets, who should I support? In 3 John vss. 6-8, we see three core values in who we should support going into Missions.
1. Those who are already serving. The Apostle John told Gaius in so many words, I have seen your work for the Lord and I want to support you in it.
2. Those who are not seeking vain glory. John told Gaius he went out for “His name’s sake”. Whose name? —Jesus’! Gaius wasn’t out for fame and fortune, he went out for Jesus!
3. Those willing to yoke up with us for the cause of Christ. Being like-minded goes deeper than just going to church;
It involves Foundational Truth— The Word of God.
It involves Methodology— How will you get the Gospel out?
It involves Faithfulness— We not only want to see Missionaries start well but we want to see them run and finish well.
YOU’RE ON A JOURNEY
Take a turn without God and it will be the worst mistake you will ever make!
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke 15:13
There is a poem I heard about several years ago written by Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken.” Within the poem the traveler comes to a fork in the road and he has to make a decision to make. Will he go left or will he go right?
Find out: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken
Friend, as you and I travel this road called life; we should not make any decisions on which way to go without the Lord guiding us! We should let the Lord have His way. When we don’t we find ourselves alone, broken, and eating the scraps from the world’s leftovers!
Will you let Him guide you? Or will you grinding husk with your teeth like the Prodigal Son?
THERE ARE DECISIONS TO MAKE EVERY DAY
Good decisions are best made when prayed for beforehand.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Every day we have decisions to make. Some will have an immediate impact on our lives while others will not be seen in our lifetime. Whether immediate results or tomorrow’s rewards we should spend some time on our knees seeking God’s guidance. We should seek out counsel when His way is not right before us. Then, when we finally pull the trigger, we will know whatever happens we have done our very best for the Lord.
Decisions...Decisions!
It is a wicked thing to be neutral between right and wrong. --Theodore Roosevelt
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. 1 Kings 18:21
No one likes someone that cannot make decisions for themselves. They stand in the line at McDonald’s and they look like a deer in the headlights of a car. I am like, “Can you make a decision on those chicken nuggets and get out of my way…Please?”
But fortunately to have life is a bigger decision than that of nuggets or a burger. It is Heaven or hell. It’s life or death. It’s peace to turmoil. I believe I will echo Joshua when he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!”