1 Corinthians 4

I'm writing from the Navajo reservation in Northwest New Mexico.   Here we have the privilege to observe the hearts of a missionary family who are serving others less fortunate by becoming like them. 

It reminds me of Jesus' promise in Matthew 19:29, "And everyone who has house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last; and the last, first." 

Here we are in the presence of the Benally's who have left many of the conveniences of normal life to serve a people whom God loves.  They patiently wait for their home to be built here, while God is preparing a mansion for them in heaven to match their sacrifice here.  Wow - how long would I be willing to wait for water or electricity or a dry home as the people here do?  What a blessing to me to hear of the faithfulness of the members of the church to hear, speak and serve Jesus.  

In 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches that it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. He points out all the ways that he is pouring out his life and spending his opportunities for the benefit of the people of the Corinthian church. Their gain was his loss (but ultimate gain). As a father, he gave of himself that they might have life.  

Over and over, Jesus gave us this same teaching in parables about the importance of being faithful with what we are entrusted with.  The master returns to see if we (the stewards) are being faithful to cultivate, await, invest, serve or respect him. He doesn't expect us to manufacture fruit for Him out of thin air, but with what He gives us in time, resources and opportunity.  Which brings me back to the Roger Deal Memorial Baptist Church in the Navajo nation. Because they use all the resources they are given (and don't complain when God tests their faith with trials or less than they might desire), I am deeply convicted about whether I come anywhere close to their faithfulness. 

I really desire to emulate the faithfulness of God in my relationships, my roles as husband, father, elder, and steward of the opportunities and resources He has given me.  I'm back to realizing that I have minuscule faith and equally small faithfulness compared to so many other saints.   But rather than discouraging me, that realization spurs me on to reach for that, because the God I serve drips faithfulness and wants to drench those who love Him in it.   Are you experiencing that?  Maybe at trip into the lives and homes of some less fortunate, but more faithful, will drive you to long for it like I do at this moment in New Mexico.  

 TOM ALBERS | Elder Chairman

Tom committed his life to Christ as a junior in high school in 1975. After moving to Austin in 1995, Tom and Cindy attended Hill Country Bible Church in Cedar Park before becoming part of the HCBC Pflugerville and Hutto Bible church plants. Tom serves as a Small Group Leader and in Youth ministry and in other ministry oversight roles. Tom and Cindy were married in 1986 and are parents to Will, Emily, Clare, Hannah and Nathan and grandparents to Owen.