What Am I?

by R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Category: Fingerpost | Jun 1974

There is nothing new in the statement that we live in a sad, lonely world. But things do happen sometimes which jolt us into the realization that on our very doorsteps drastic, heart-rending incidents can happen. A story of grief and sorrow must surely lie behind this notice in the obituary column of a prominent newspaper:

UNKNOWN FEMALE - aged approximately 16 years.

Funeral service Thursday ... at 9 a.m... Memorial Chapel ... Interment at ... cemetery...

The girl had been found in a park; she had been murdered. No identification was found; no clues as to parents or birthplace. Just an unknown female. One of the many thousands of this world's children missing from their homes. Doctor's, sociologists, and police are still cataloguing information in their endeavour to find an explanation for this calamitous situation.

How thankful we should be for the opportunity to speak to children about Christ! How vastly important is our work and responsibility in the Sunday school I How necessary it is to impress on children their need of Christ as Saviour and Protector from the world's evil temptations; how helpful and wise we need to be with young Christians who are being bombarded from all sides in a Satan-controlled world! Many will remember that as young people someone cared for us; gave us the fellowship and protection of their homes; taught us the Word. nurtured us, and set us a good example. We must emulate these beloved Christians.

There is one gift given to the Church which can be so easily overlooked. It is tucked away in the verse with apparent insignificance. and yet it is so important. It is classified under the heading of "helps" (1 Cor. 12:28). We need to ask ourselves by way of examination betimes, "What am I in the church of God?" and follow it up with two further enquiries, "What can I be?" and, "What would I like to be?" The word "helps" is used only once, and it means to support, to participate with in order to help, to succour, to give relief. What a valuable work this is. David appreciated the men who helped him from day to day (1 Chron. 12:21,22); Paul commended by name Urbanus and Prisca and Aquila as helpers in Christ Jesus (Rom. 16:3,9); and he encouraged Epaphroditus to help reconcile the differences between the two sisters in the church at Philippi (Phil. 4:2,3). What am I? a help, helpless, or a hindrance?

R. Darke, Victoria, B.C. | Jun 1974
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