Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Teach the Next Generation

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

-- Titus 2:3-5

The preacher was frustrated. He really wanted the women of his congregation to restart a group geared toward missions. One woman considered herself in charge. Her husband was chairman of the deacons and she viewed herself as leader of the women. Except she wasn't leading anybody anywhere.

It was understandable. She was older. She was used to being in charge. She wanted everything done her way. And, frankly, she didn't want any part of the work that comes with restarting a program. Nor did she want anyone else to do it. The woman was full of excuses. The women were getting older. No one was interested. Time was such an issue. And on and on. How sad.

At another church, one woman felt God had called her to restart the same program. She was a retired teacher with more than her share of family responsibilities. She did it for a year, calling on everyone, young and old, to help her. The next year she passed the torch to another woman of about the same age. Again, someone with plenty of experience from years past with the same group. They encouraged all women, young and old, to participate. The following year a much younger woman took the helm. She'd learned how to do things from those who went before her, the same ones standing beside her and helping her every step of the way. Older women teaching younger women how to serve the Lord. What a blessing for all of them.

The same type of blessing the church without the missions group is missing, all because one woman is fighting it. She's focused on self, rather than God. She isn't willing to reach out to younger women, to teach, to pass the torch. That's how wonderful groups stop doing wonderful things.

I hope God will convict this woman and that she'll either help restart the group or get out of the way and let someone else do it. God's work. That's what it's all about.