Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker
Stop Eating Worms
When I was in grade school, Mom and I were often invited to go fishing on the Stockton Lake with church friends Howard and Myrtie. I enjoyed the gorgeous water and potent sun on the pontoon boat, and also learned to bait my hook with real worms. In my high school years, I had to dissect a worm in Coach Mays biology class! Down through the years, I decided I didn’t really like worms. They have a bad reputation. Even the great hymnist Isaac Watts used a worm analogy in one of his most-beloved songs: “Alas! And did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?”
If a gal is feeling lowly about herself and life in general, she might glumly say, “I think I’ll go eat worms.” That’s so ridiculous! Worms are gross – instead, eat chocolate with a friend! And then pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get to work for Jesus. Christian author and humorist Barbara Johnson says it like it is: “In your desire to share the gospel, you may be the only Jesus someone else will ever meet. Be real and be involved with people.” So if you’re in the backyard eating worms because you’re feeling sorry for yourself, you can’t help anyone! Eating worms, plus being alone, will just make you feel worse!
People need the Lord and people need you! And people need each other! Unless you’re John the Baptist living alone in the wilderness preparing to be the forerunner of Jesus, get out in the open and be with people. Shake your salt and shine your light! Jesus said to His followers, “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?…It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:13-14 NLT).
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be worthless; I want to be useful. The main place we do the work of God is “as we go along.” It happens in the routine corners of our life. Sharing the gospel doesn’t necessarily mean standing on a soapbox at the streetcorner and preaching. I like the expression, “Living the Gospel.” Jesus went about doing good. We’re to do the same — just go about our normal everyday lives being real and living the words found in God’s Word. It really is that simple.
Jesus followers need to see all people with the eyes of our heart. Love notices, love listens, and love remembers. Consider installing a governor on talking about yourself. Try switching from “I” to “U” when conversing with others. And then diligently train yourself to listen and be interested. However, when we do talk, our heartfelt expression of encouraging words and loving actions can minister hope and joy to others which then has a boomerang affect on us too! Genuine compliments are so appreciated and also helps to build and strengthen relationships. Have you ever received a compliment that made your day? Go ahead, make someone’s day!
If the COVID crisis caused you to stay away from your church family and you’re still “going to church online,” it’s way past time to stop eating worms and be with your close-knit band of believers again. We can’t be truly healthy if we have no uplifting and consistent church fellowship. People need each other. You’ll find joy and purpose when you climb over the backyard fence and start contributing yourself to helping others.
The Key: Reach out to others – that’s what Jesus did.