My Sunday morning began with me grumbling, grumbling that ended when I walked into church.  There I shook hands with the greeters and smiled at the people in the pews around me.  Dave was not fooled. All of this started when our company left that morning, and let’s face it: some people are meant to be house guests, and others…well, they need lessons.

When they arrived a few days earlier, “Jim” wasn’t talking to “Helen.” That remained unchanged.  She catered to him, did everything to please him, but he clearly was irritated with her and refused to acknowledge her.  Jim loved his time with Dave and me, but his actions toward Helen left me asking her why she didn’t deserve even a little respect from him, that God did not make her a doormat. (The fact that they have dated for 15 years but never married affected the way I counseled her.)  Details don’t matter, but it was a long five days.

When they left, he announcing that they might come here and rent for a month, I gasped.  That was Helen’s chance to lay down the law and tell her “boyfriend” that things needed to change before she would spend 30 days with him.  (Actually, 30 minutes would have been too much for me.) That’s what led to my Sunday morning rant.

“You know what’s going to happen, Dave.  Jim will be at our house every day, hanging out, and I will need to babysit Helen who will be griping about Jim.  She won’t listen to my advice, so what am I to do?  30 days!  Do you realize how long that is?”  And with that, we drove to church.

 

No surprises here, but the sermon dealt with the use of our time.  The pastor cited about 20 scriptures addressing how life is short, and we are here for one purpose: to glorify God. Life is not about me and my desires to fill my time.  Our job is to be a disciple for Christ and to share our testimony with everyone we meet.  I guess “everyone” probably would include Jim (an atheist) and Helen (of Jewish lineage).

I was convicted.  In the 15 years we had been friends with this couple, we had not made a dent in how we represented what Christ had done in our lives.  They know we are Christians.  They have heard us pray before meals and have turned down our invitations to go to church with us, but they have not made any move to want what we have (except for the grumbling part).

Sunday’s pastor addressed all the ways we fail to do what we are called to do, and I met most of the requirements.  We should wake up with intentionality, seeking to introduce others to Jesus.  Instead, we wake up with our “to do” list beckoning to be met, or we seek social time that makes us happy.

On the drive home from church, I asked Dave if he had called the pastor and asked him to preach directly to me.  I told him that the sermon made me realize how selfish I am, how 30 days is nothing if I can show this couple the love of Christ and have opportunities to speak boldly about him.  Instead of Dave agreeing that I needed that message, he said that it was directed at him, that there are areas—he listed them—he needs to improve also.

Looks like we both are in need of a little more Jesus.  No, correction…a lot more Jesus.