Christian Man vs. Man Who is a Christian
Now there is not necessarily a difference between a Christian man or a man who is a Christian, it is a play on words. However, for the purpose of this homework assignment I am going to talk about two different types.
The first one is a man who is a Christian and his whole life is focused on Christ. Living for Christ is his focal point. The second one is a man who is a Christian. While he makes a claim for Christ, to him Jesus is rather something that he proclaims, not lives. Let’s break down these two characters. For the point of this study I will call the first one, the Christian man, John. I will call the second one, the man who is a Christian, Scottie.
Starting with Scottie…Scottie is a man who upholds morals. For a living Scottie creates websites for businesses with his business, Beam me up on the web Scottie. Scottie is married, has a couple of kids and lives the typical portrayed American dream. He is active in the community and attends a Baptist church where he is a member. Scottie tithes 10% each week of his earnings and he also gives on top of that additional tithes to this or that organization. Scottie is a member of the church choir and coaches the church softball team. Scottie also helps the church build their annual Habitat for Humanity home and works one weekend a month at the local Salvation Army soup kitchen. Scottie watches football and baseball regularly and is quite a sportsman. No one has any major complaints about Scottie and eventually his kids grow up and Scottie and his wife become elder members of the church, still tithing out of their retirement. Eventually Scottie and his wife dies and a few years goes by and no one hardly has a thought about Scottie. Sooner or later he is all but forgotten.
John is a hard-working man. He has a manufacturing job making scissors at the local scissor factory called Sharp Inc. John has been working here for about 15 years and often doesn’t have time to eat his lunch on break because he is answering questions about God and witnessing to his coworkers who often mock him behind his back, sometimes to his face. He also meditates on the Word of God while on the line at work. John is married and also has a couple of kids. He is also an active member of the church and devotes much time help to maintain the grounds and the building at no cost. John’s income is low compared to his families living expense but he still tithes. Each month John sets aside a sum of money to give to the church and also a bill or two to hand out to the poor when he is witnessing to them on his morning walk. John is a member of the church and is also active. He is a deacon of the church, in the choir and actively counsels and seeks out those members who have need of Christian fellowship. John spends time in prayer each morning and reads the bible over breakfast. John also studies the bible with his wife and kids nearly each night after supper. John is always trying to convince his friends, family and strangers to accept Jesus as their Savior. Eventually John’s kids grow up and move out on their own. John and his wife grow old and eventually pass away. They split their meager possessions between their children and the church. Sooner or later he no longer remembered.
Life is short, in fact all of us here have passed the 25% mark, unless you are planning on going for a record and most of us here have passed the 33% mark and are heading up to the 40% mark quickly. This is assuming that we all live to the ripe old age of 80 something with out our death coming sooner or the Rapture happening. The thing is sooner or later we will pass on and sooner or later no one will remember us. Let’s be honest here and think of the following questions:
How many times in the past year have you thought about a relative that has died more than 5 years ago?
Have you ever considered or seriously inquired into your great great grandmother? Do you even know her name?
How many times have you planned something to go one way in the past and end up in a completely different circumstance?
The thing to consider here is our fruits of our labor. Now we are going to assume that both Scottie and John were indeed true biblical Christians. While our works do certainly not give us our Salvation they certainly do attest to our sincerity of following Christ. We know that we cannot take it with us when we die, this is obvious. But as Christians I believe we should be asking the Lord what we can give Him while we are alive. How we can serve Him.
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize controls himself in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in this manner: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” 1st Corinthians 9:24-26
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father, through Him.” Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, do it from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24
“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
The questions here that should be asked by all of us are the following:
Are our lives even as honorable as Scottie, how about John?
Could you be doing more for Christ?
Are we storing up treasures in Heaven or on earth?
Is our life a light in this world of darkness? Do people know we are Saved by our actions, let alone words?
Do we do our work as Christians? Does it reflect that Christ is in us?
Do we give to Him that has given life to us?
