What Is That In Thine Hand?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIn Exodus 4:1-2, the text reads: “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand?”
Through Moses, God used a simple walking staff cut from the branches of a bush or tree (“rod” – Exodus 4:2) as a “tool” or a “blessing” to be used in accomplishing His will (Exodus 4:5). Today, we as Christians, have been given “tools” and “blessings” for the exact same purpose – to carry out God’s will. In this article, we will look at seven of these tools or blessings.
1) The Gospel
The church’s mission statement is found in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
The church’s action plan is found in Matthew 28:20, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you….”
In Romans 10:18 and Colossians 1:6,23 the scripture says that the Gospel was preached to the whole world during the lifetime of the apostle Paul. The question is: Can we today in the 21st Century preach this same Gospel to “every creature”? If not – why not?
2) Our Talents
In the parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the three servants were entrusted with a different amount of talents. Each servant was to use his full ability to produce more talents (vs. 16-17). The first and second servant reported their accounting with great “joy” to their master (vs. 21, 23) but the third servant who had done nothing for his master waited until last. He had despised the small trust committed to him (vs. 18) and now he begins to make excuses (vs. 24-25). His excuses, however, were in vain because his master had a right to as much faithfulness in this servant with one talent as he did in the one who had five talents.
The point is that God looks for as much faithfulness and fidelity in his children today who have but little talent as He does in those who have much talent! Let us be like Mary (who was sister to Lazarus and Martha – John 12:1-3) and be found “doing what we can” (Mark 14:8) in carring out our Master’s will (Mark 14:9).
3) Time
Each of us has been allocated 168 hours per week. From the scriptures, we are taught to be careful how we allocate or use that time in relationship to our understanding of what our Lord’s will is – using our time wisely for the Lord’s glory and benefit and not our own (Ephesians 5:9-17).
We are to walk in (spiritual) wisdom toward them who are non-believers, making the greatest use of our time influencing them for Christ – not the Devil (Colossians 4:5). Our actions always speak louder than our words. The lives of Christians are in many cases the only “Bible” that the world reads (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
4) Opportunity
The inspired apostle instructs us, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). Why should we do good to all men? Because the eternal principle of sowing and reaping applies (Gal. 6:7-8). If we “sow” good things, we shall “reap” good things (Gal. 6:9). We are also instructed to make the “most” of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16).
God has given each of us only so much time to do His will. Christ said in John 9:4, “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work” (cf. Deuteronomy 6:5; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Jeremiah 48:10).
5) Resources
Our money, possessions, power and fame should all be used for God’s glory and honor because God owns all of them anyway (John 3:27; James 1:17).
Recall Pilate’s question in John 19:10-11 when he said to Jesus, “Don’t you know that I have power to crucify thee, and have the power to release thee?” To which Christ replied, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.”
6) Means Or Medium
We are to share the Gospel through any means or medium available to us today. The great apostle Paul was limited in the means or mediums presented to him in by which to preach the simple saving Gospel of Christ, yet he preached the Gospel with more fervency and devotion to Christ than anyone before or since.
He stated to the Corinthian brethren that he came not with a great oratory capability but he came to them with the simple truth that Christ died for them (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). His sole purpose was to lay a solid foundation of Bible faith so their faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (vs. 5).
7) Motivation To Act
By and through the love and blessings of God (Romans 4:24; Romans 5:1-15), are we using all of those blessings to give glory and honor to God in the fulfillment of His purpose for the church?
The apostle Paul stated to the Ephesian brethren that it is through the church of our Lord that the Gospel is to be preached to a lost and dying world of people living in sin. We as children of God should thus be motivated to preach and teach that saving Gospel (Romans 1:16) by whatever means or medium necessary because of what God has done for us through Christ’s sacrifice (John 3:16; Romans 5:5-9; 1 John 4:8-11).
It is indeed sad that some members of the Lord’s body aren’t even motivated to attend the services of the church much less teach and preach the Gospel. What a shame it is to the Lord’s church that He gave His life and shed His blood for! (Acts 20:28). Surely we can render better service to our Lord than this!
Conclusion
In this article we have briefly looked at seven “tools” or “blessings” that God has put “into our hand.” These tools or blessings, however, will not be for the glory and benefit of our heavenly Father unless and until we are willing to use them for His glory and honor!
Just like the “rod” in Moses’ hand did not fulfill the purpose of God until Moses used the rod in exactly the way God prescribed, the same holds true for us in the Lord’s church today.
Are we properly using the “tools” and “blessings” of:
1) The Gospel
2) Our Talents
3) Our Time
4) Our Opportunities
5) Our Resources
6) Our Means or Medium
7) Our Motivation to Act
Our heavenly Father is still asking us today as He asked Moses in ages past, “What is that in thine hand?”