Today's Devotional

October 7, 2003

Subject:  Taking Up The Slack

Philippians 2:30 - "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me."

This could have also been entitled, "Working Yourself To Death For Christ."  That's what Paul says this young fellow Epaphroditus was doing.  However God had mercy on him and spared him to live on.  But if you look further, you'll see why he was working himself to death.  He was taking up the slack for other believers.  

I've often heard it quoted in churches that about 5% of the people do 90% of the work.  Those numbers change every time I hear it, but it always shows a marked contrast between the number of people who are working and the number who are not contributing in service to God.  The message in that is not for those who are not contributing, but instead to those who are.  If you are serving from the heart, like our friend Epaphroditus, you won't be concerned about others, but you'll simply take up the slack because of your love for the things of Christ.  Paul said that because of the lack of service of some believers, people like Epaphroditus had to do extra work.  Nowhere does it say that he was forced to do it and we see from the scripture above, that he didn't care about his own life or health to do the work of Christ.

I'd call that devotion.  Where is yours today?  Are you taking up the slack willingly because of the lack of service of others or do you simply complain about their lack of service?  This is not about becoming a workaholic, but instead about becoming a Christaholic.   Is He more important than your life and does your heart drive you to work for Him?  If not, perhaps someone is taking up "your" slack. 

Consider it.  

Carlen