My Part

During his inaugural address on January 20, 1981, former President Ronald Reagan told the story of a young man named Martin Treptow "who left his job in a small barbershop in 1917 to go over to France" as a soldier to help with the War effort. Tragically, "on the western front, he was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy fire." "We're told," Reagan said, "that on his body was found a diary. On the flyleaf under the heading 'My Pledge,' he had written these words: We 'must win this war. Therefore I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight cheerfully and do my utmost, as if the issue of the whole struggle depended on me alone.'" Whatever national background we may posses, we know that during wartime everyone must do his or her part. But to say, I will do my part "as if the whole struggle depended on me alone" is a staggering thought, for it suggests personal responsibility and commitment at its best!

Today, it is easy for people to rely on governments, service groups, or others to work change in our society, or to make life easier for themselves. The focus is often for someone else to do the work. And yet, the Scriptures present a very different picture of what is required. In Philippians 2:4 the apostle Paul says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." He becomes even more appointed in Ephesians 4:16 where he says that the church "grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Here we find an interesting principle, for Paul is inferring that the church will not reach its full maturity until each member takes his or her place of responsibility in the body.