The other day i went to attend some Christian meetings, along with my friends couple, soon after the message was over the preacher just disappeared from the campus, he went away in limosa car along with his wife, and two children and some helpers, may be maids free of cost.
I did not heed this , and I did not give much importance to it But my friend was critical about this departure, she said, 'why this preacher is not giving time for the public, and allow them to talk to him' I said , "these people will crush him just as they did to Jagan," in fact my husband was in my mind. My husband, Yesuratnam, used to spend a lot of time with the people who came to listen to his message He used to come very late to eat his food, though he was sickly, he never gave importance to his life, or his health, he all ways used to tell me , "Leela, first 'others' next 'we' " His word and deed are the same, what he used to say , he used to live by it. ho, how many days i used to wamper over his negligence of his own health to give first preference to 'others'. Many a times even we family , i.e., me and children were put aside for the sake of others, to tend their needs, we had to forgo many little pleasures too, as he used to give his precious time and energy for others.
So I thought its better for the preachers not to spend much time for others, when my friend commented about that particular preacher, that he is selfish not to give some time for others after his speach .
There was a little bit difference of opinion in between us, but neither of us quit the ettiquett of imposing our opion on others, so that conversation was stopped then and there. But my mind often goes to that conversation and wondering what is right? whether to spend time with the audience after the message or just leave the place soon after the message ?
Actually today is 8th of May but i opened the page of 8th of April of Our Daily Bread, today and read the Bible text and the meaning of it in that little book ODB.
when i got answer to my thoughts in my mind i was so happy, then only i saw that i was supposed to read month of May portion, and i was dragging behind one month exactly, realizing my mistake, i understood that it was not by mistake, but by the coincidence of God's help I read that portion which answered my cosncience, correctly.
Here i put down what i read in ODB .
One person, wanted toknow what life was like for homeless people. so he went in disguise, and lived among them, once he attended a meeting where he was offered food and shelter if he listened to the message. after he listened to the preacher he wanted to shake hands with him to comment that the message was good for him But the preacher ignored him and went away within no time, hurriedly. Then this person realized that somehitng is missing in this ministry, that is building up relationship.
st Paul, was right when he said, "we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospelof God but also our own lives,because you have become dear to us IThess 2:8 When Paul sahred the gospel, he gave himself too.
In our service to the Lord, do we share not just the words, or money,but our time and relationship?
This bit of information clarified my wavering thoughts about that preacher, and painful thoughts about the time my husband spent for others, despising his health. At any cost the preacher is supposed to spend time with the people, however good he may be in preaching. serving others by offering time and relationship is more important than any thing.
