"GOOD FOR NOTHING"

Lowell Blasingame

 few years ago a humorous story about a man who had eight sons made the rounds. It seems that the first made a doctor and the second stayed out all night, too. The third became a lawyer and the fourth wouldn't tell the truth either. The fifth was a schoolteacher and the sixth couldn't make a living either. The seventh became a preacher and the eighth was good for nothing, also! "Good for nothing" is an expression that has come to denote that which is worthless or of no practical value. It is used of both persons and things.

t is ironic that anything could reach this condition but it may. In fact, the Bible reveals some things that have become good for nothing.

esus once compared His disciples to salt and said, ". . . but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men" (Matt. 5:13). Salt that has lost it savor is good for nothing! The influence of the Lord's disciple is to be such that it is to be both savoring and a saving influence for the Lord but suppose a Christian lives in such a way that he loses this influence? What is his condition now? Has he not become "good for nothing"?

n this same connection Jesus taught that His disciple are the light of the world and made the observation that men do not light a candle and cover it but put in on a candlestick so that it may give light to all in the house (Matt. 5:14,15). But what is my status if I cover my light? Is not a candle that is covered "good for nothing" in the Lord's service?

esus likened the kingdom to a man, who before departing, called his servants and imparted talents to each according to ability. Later the master returned from his journey and called each servant into account. Two had gained for the master according to their ability but one had buried his talent and gained nothing for his master. The master called this man a wicked, slothful and unprofitable servant (Matt. 25:14-30). He had been a "good for nothing" servant in service. Today, is the state of that child of God who hides behind an "I can't" excuse, thereby burying his talent, any different from this unprofitable servant? Will not doing this make us "good for nothing" in the Master's work?

esus used the vine and branches in another parable and taught that fruitful branches glorify the Father but an unfruitful branch, "he taketh away," and is separated from the vine, it withers and men gather and burn them (John 15:1-8). In like manner, if we are unfruitful we are “good for nothing” and will be rejected and burned by the Master.

he Lord has a place and use for salt, candles, servants that have but one talent and branches. Let's seek to be useful in the Lord's service. &

WHATEVER JESUS SAYS!

Randy Cavender

n our society, most people are concerned about their rights. Individuals say that they have the right to do anything they desire, sometimes caring little who they hurt in the process. It seems that many have this attitude in the religious world also. They surmise that since we are constitutionally guaranteed religious freedom that we can believe anything that suits us. Consequently, it makes no difference what the Lord has said, as long as they can do what they want. When Jesus was at the wedding in Cana of Galilee and the wine supply was depleted, Mary, the mother of Jesus told her son about it. We find in verse 5, "His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it’" (John 2:5).

he Colossians were taught "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Col. 3:17). We need always to keep in our minds that Jesus is the one we must follow and heed the advice of Jesus' mother to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." What are some things that Jesus expects of us?

n Matt. 16:24 Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). If one is going to follow Christ, he will have to deny himself.

here will be no more of this "my rights" attitude. We will voluntarily lay aside our wants and wishes and transform ourselves to obey the commandments of the Lord. If one is to please God, he will have to deny himself, by himself. But many have not done this! They simply do what they want in religious matters, failing to recognize Jesus as their Lord. Since Jesus said, "Let him deny himself" they should simply do it!

urthermore, Jesus taught that we should follow His example. "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Are you walking in the footsteps of Jesus? Do you look to the Son of God as your example in life? Many use the excuse that we cannot do this. But apparently Jesus thought differently, for he expects us to do as He has done (John 13:15). Peter also teaches us that we should follow Christ, "Leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1 Pet. 2:21). Are you following the example that Christ has left for you? Do you make the effort to be Christ-like in your life? Remember, this is required of us. Therefore we should do it!

inally, we shall discuss another command that apparently troubles many people, i.e. baptism. When Jesus gave the Great Commission, He told His apostles to teach the gospel to all nations. He then taught them that, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mk. 16:16). We also have example after example in the book of Acts that teach us how people were converted to the Lord and one will find that baptism is in every account!

t amazes me that so many affirm that one does not have to be baptized to be saved. Sometimes they claim to have already been saved without it! But why do people try to get around a plain commandment of God? It seems to me that pride has kept some from doing everything God has said to do. Let us remember that if we fail to obey fully, we will be lost. Therefore what Christ has commanded, let us do it!

et us stop questioning why the Lord has given us things to do. Let us simply with love for our Lord obey His every command. Therefore, "Whatever He says to you, do it" (John 2:5). &

THE FIRST GOSPEL SERMON

Bob Myhan

hen God said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Gen. 3:14,15), He was stating His intention to reconcile her unto Himself, that is to make it possible for her to be friends with God, once again. All those who are at enmity with God are the seed of the serpent, the devil (John 8:44). Though Eve was “the mother of all living,” Jesus is uniquely “her Seed” for He had no earthly father (Matt. 1:18-25; Gal. 4:4).

he bruising of the “head” and “heel” were figures for a fatal and a non-fatal blow. The latter was a prophecy of Satan’s instrumentality in the crucifixion (Luke 22:3-6; John 13:18-27). This would be a non-fatal blow because of “the resurrection from the dead,” by which Jesus would “destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8), a fatal blow indeed! &