GIVE THE TURKEY TO THE CHURCH

By Narita Roady

Pryor, Oklahoma

When Christmas is near and the number of turkey chefs on the rise, the Butterball Turkey company sets up a special hotline to answer any questions people might have about cooking their holiday bird.

They received one such call from a woman who was wondering if it was safe to cook a turkey she had stored in her freezer for 23 years! (One would have to think, "What’s the question!?")

The helpline operator told her it may very well be safe but only if the temperature of the freezer had been maintained at below 0 degrees for the entire 23 years.

She added that even if it WERE safe the flavor had probably deteriorated and she could not recommend cooking and serving it.

The caller glibly replied, "Yeah, that's exactly what we thought In that case we'll just give it to the church!"

What audacity! What nerve! How could they! Yet how often are we guilty of the same offense? We want to be at the top of God's priorities and be first on His list, but expect Him to be okay with being at the bottom of ours?

Have you ever given the "turkey to the church?" Of course I don't mean an actual Butterball. There are several ways we do this and may not realize it.

What about your time? Each week families hustle and bustle about from dawn to dusk. Prime time is allotted to work, children's school activities and sports, internet, television and a multitude of other time "gobblers." Christians are willing to volunteer and help with all men-children's school, sports teams, extracurricular activities, community groups, and more.

These same "servants" raise a mighty ruckus of murmuring and complaining when asked to keep the church nursery, help clean the church, teach a class, or anything for the church in general.

What does God get? Usually very little. Maybe a rushed devotional in the morning if any at all. Possibly a few flare prayers throughout the day when there is a NEED.

Church members will drag themselves to service, MAYBE 3 times a week with a "put out" attitude, all the while thinking, "I am sooo tired. How much longer before the preacher shuts up? I have so much to do; I really need to get home."

What about some time for the Lord, visitation, witnessing, helping and encouraging others, inviting people to church? Nope, they've saved the BEST for themselves and given "the turkey" to the Lord.

Out of those 525,949 minutes He gives us each year, don't you agree He deserves the lion's share? When we face eternity, is the world that we so feverishly spend our precious time on now, going to be able to help us?

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed The night is far spent, the day is at hand " Romans

With Christ's coming so near our very next step could be into eternity, then why do we continue to give God the crumbs of HIS gift of time?

Consider your life. What are you investing in? Somehow, people have drawn a big black line between GOD and LIFE, separating the 2 in their minds and daily life. We have many pressing matters and life today is complicated in countless ways.

God does not want us to neglect our responsibilities to our family or employer, but He does not want to be left out of them. He wants to go with us on our daily rounds and be a part of all we do.

Instead we rush out the door and leave God at home, with our Bible on the bedside table.

Moreover, He doesn't want us to take HIS time, to do other things either. Even though we may feel we have the weight of the world bearing down on us, God expects us to give Him HIS time when it is due.

Like our time, it is such a small portion compared to all the time He gives us for our plans and work..

"For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." Romans 14:8.

Think about your abilities. Each of us was blessed with special talents and skills that God wants us to use to bless others and glorify Hun. Because Christ lives in us we also have a wellspring of strength to show forth His love and mercy.

But where do most Christians let this flow of lovingkindness "gush?" More often than not they go out of the way to show love, kindness, patience and to help those outside of the church.

Ever careful in word and attitude not to offend and ever thoughtful of their feelings and needs, then - "halo" shines brightly.

Don't get me wrong, this is the way we should conduct ourselves in the world, but when that same "shining" saint hits the church doors, they "give the turkey" to their church family. They vent their pent-up frustration and exasperations on brothers and sisters in Christ, never thinking how their words might cause offense or wound another's spirit.

Within their church family are many needs they are totally blinded to. The need might be a material one, a word of encouragement, a hug, or just a caring and listening ear.

Galatians 6:10 tells us, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."

Those that love us, labor beside us, and are there for us in times of trouble deserve our best, don't you think?

What about your money? How many times does a believer put a 5 or 10 in the offering plate and feel they have done God a great service with HIS money? Finances are just one of the major areas where God gets "the turkey," or maybe I should say "the bones."

If what most people give to the church was honestly 10% of what we earn each month, they must be living in cardboard boxes and wearing rags!

Wow, if all of us would add up those cokes, rented movies, eating out, satellite or cable television, internet, or any expenditure other than food, and shelter, in other words necessities, how much would be left?

While tithing has become a rare habit among Christians, giving an offering is almost unheard of! God allows us to use His money not only to take care of our needs but to care for the needs of His ministry too.

No wonder churches and ministries struggle so in these last days; the money God intended for them is being used to make credit card payments or sitting in someone's garage in the form of a gadget they couldn't live without. (From Oklahoma Baptist).