TOO BUSY TO HEAR GOD'S WORD?

Acts 28:15a

The brothers there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us.


The Forum of Appius was 43 miles from Rome; and the Three Taverns was 33 miles -- all of which had to be traveled on foot. Some even traveled greater distances to greet and meet the Apostle who had written the Epistle to the Romans. Many years before, Magi from the east traveled for almost two years following a star to worship the one who was born king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1-2). Yet at the same time religious leaders in Jerusalem couldn't travel five miles to see what was happening in Bethlehem.
The next time you attend a special event at your church, count the number of people in attendance versus the number on a typical Sunday morning. I am always amazed at how small the church body becomes for non-Sunday events. For example, at my church we have probably 450 plus men who regularly attend services, yet we are always hard pressed to get 20% of those men to enroll in one of the Men's Ministry events. Why is that? How has it become inconvenient for us to hear the Word taught more than one hour a week? Are we too busy to listen to God's appointed messengers?


I am grateful the Lord spoke to me on this topic today. You see my church has a Men's Ministry event planned for this coming Friday evening. We have a really great speaker lined up and I'm sure it will be terrific. However, despite all of the above I was planning to not attend. My excuse -- I've just been too busy lately. Not busy with the Lord's work, but busy with all the stuff that doesn't matter eternally. I'm sure you all know what I mean. What about you? Are you at church every time the Word is being preached or taught? Or are you in front of the television watching baseball or American Idol? Have you lost that yearning to hear the Word? I'll be there on Friday -- will you?

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