It’s Time To Take Year-End Inventory!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on Christian Living
The end of the year is generally the time that most companies and businesses devote to doing the often-dreaded (but greatly needed) task of taking a physical inventory. Inventory allows us to determine what we have, what we are lacking, what we have accomplished, what we failed to do, and the areas that need attention for the coming year.
It would be a foolish and risky decision to neglect such a helpful and informative introspection. The end of the year is also an opportune time to take a spiritual inventory. A self-examination of this nature is even prescribed by the Word of God. In the first part of 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul tells us to:
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”
With these thoughts in mind, let’s take an inventory of the following:
1) Take An Inventory Of Our Prayer Life — Much can be learned about our level of spirituality by examining our prayer life. How much praying did we do this past year? Did we pray fervently when there was a sickness, financial problem, death or other difficulties?
These are certainly times when we need prayer. In times of difficulty and hardship, we need the help of our Father. The best part is, He desires for us to come to Him with our weaknesses, illnesses, heartaches, and troubles (1 Peter 5:7). But if this is the only time we utter a prayer, there are changes that need to be made.
Perhaps we need to pray more often than that, but it is only a few half-hearted words muttered out of guilt or obligation. If so, there are changes that need to be made. If our inventory reveals a frequent, fervent and heartfelt prayer life, let’s keep it up in the upcoming New Year (James 5:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
2) Take An Inventory Of Our Bible Study Habits — How much time did we spend this past year in Bible study? (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). We cannot count the time spent studying in Sunday morning or Wednesday night Bible classes, because this is the bare minimum that anyone who wears the name of Christ should study (Psalm 1:2; Psalm 119:97). How much did we study on our own? Did we spend more time reading the paper than the Bible? If so, changes need to be made.
3) Take Inventory Of The Spirituality Of Our Family — During the past twelve months did we make the church the center of our family? (Matthew 6:33). Did we put spiritual things first or were they occasionally neglected due to other things? Did sports, trips or friends come before spiritual things or worship services and Bible classes?
4) Take Inventory Of Our Place In The Local Congregation — In 2012, did we help or hurt the work of the Lord? Did we get on board and work to accomplish the goals set by the elders of the church, or did we just stand on the sideline criticizing and complaining? Each member is a vital part of the body, but those members must be working together (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).
Brethren, when was the last time we took inventory of our life, the direction we are going and what we hope to accomplish for the Lord? (see here and here). For some of us, it may have been this time last year, in which case we are in desperate need of and are long overdue for a spiritual inventory.