by Michael E. Brooks

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others" (Matt. 23:23).

What are our herbs? Do we have special "hang-ups" on certain must-do routines or rituals that matter a lot more to us than they may to God? Jesus recognizes that there is value in tithing, even to the minute level practiced by the Pharisees, yet he makes it plain that other things are much more important. His point is that we must major in majors, without neglecting the things of somewhat less significance. The lesson is very plain. But how often do we think to ask ourselves whether we have learned the lesson and are applying it in our own walk?

On my last trip to Bangladesh I was able to arrange for some more furnishings for the office at Khulna Bible College. The big item was a wall of bookshelves. Weeks were spent in purchasing and seasoning the lumber, planing and cutting it, then putting the shelves together, fitting them, and finally sanding and staining. Finally they were in place and books were at last shelved and available to students and staff. During this process I found myself frequently visiting the areas where the work was being done, checking on progress. Completion of the project was a cause of celebration.

Now, looking back I have to grin a little sheepishly and ask, "wasn't that a lot of fuss over just some shelves? They are just wood; they don't really matter." How true. Thankfully, all our time and attention was not devoted to the shelves. Classes were taught, human needs were served, and much preaching was done, resulting in almost ninety baptisms and the planting of three new churches.

There are two lessons in this. First, even things of secondary significance must be done. Bookshelves are needed. In our local congregations these "lesser matters" may include our buildings, our budgets, and the organization of programs and activities. Few organizations can exist or flourish without such. A program is not as important as human souls or even the physical needs of the poor and helpless, but that does not mean it cannot be of value. There is time and place for the lesser things.

The second and more important lesson is, however, that we must insure that these lesser matters don't interfere with what is truly important. Meeting budgets, acquiring or improving buildings, organizing programs, and many similar activities are necessary things in churches today. They should not be neglected. But they are not the main thing. Preaching the gospel to the lost, exalting God, and serving the unfortunate remain the primary missions of the church. It is so easy for us to become so engrossed in taking care of the everyday routines that we loose sight of the big picture. We forget what the real goal of all those activities is. When that happens we become like the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus' day, and we should expect the same condemnation – "Woe unto you, Hypocrites!"

by Michael E. Brooks

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel" (Gal. 1:6).

Have you ever observed children at a gift-giving occasion? They are so excited with every new toy they unwrap, but so often within minutes have laid it down, maybe to never give it much attention ever again. New things grab our attention, but it takes much more than novelty to hold it.

A couple of months ago at Khulna Bible College in Bangladesh we bought a new reel-type manual lawn mower. It has no motor, and is powered only by the energy of the one pushing it. Yet, compared to the hand cutting of the grass and weeds that we had been doing, the new mower is modern technology. It makes the weekly maintenance of the campus much easier and much more productive.

We got back to Khulna from Dhaka, where we purchased the mower, on Monday. Friday is the normal work day on campus, when the grass is cut. Constantly during that week students and staff would go by the storage room and look at the mower. When Friday morning came someone ran to get it, and students vied for who would be the first to try it out. Throughout the morning lines formed as each waited his turn to push. It was fun to watch them in their enthusiasm for this new tool.

I am eager to return to Bangladesh, and one thing I want to see is whether the same enthusiasm for working with the mower continues after it is no longer so new. I suspect that excitement may wane. New and different soon becomes routine, then old, and eventually obsolete. Initial excitement turns to boredom and dissatisfaction.

Paul saw a similar phenomenon among the Christians of Galatia. The appeal of the pure and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ was no longer enough for some. Grace was replaced with a new system that afforded more glory to the doer. What man did outshone what God did. The new doctrine was logical, it was attractive, and most of all, it was new, at least to the Gentile Christians of Galatia. So many accepted it.

In our modern world we are constantly bombarded with the new. New fashion, new entertainment, new technology -- yes, and new doctrines and religions. When I graduated from college about 35 years ago there were 300 plus "Christian" denominations. Now it is said that there are over three thousand. New interpretations of Bible teaching are constantly being promoted, along with the latest fashion in worship styles and religious vocabulary. Many people move from one group to the next, always attracted by the newest and most exciting.

We should remember that God only sent one Savior, Jesus only built one Church, and the Spirit only wrote one Book. "But if even we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

Not everything new is better. Not everything old is obsolete. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).

It is not novelty or change that should be our criterion for acceptance, but truth. John commanded, "Test the spirits, to see whether they have come from God" (1 John 4:1).

By Michael E. Brooks

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Romans 12:3

Not many of us are gifted as headline stars. That is not surprising, considering how few "first chairs" exist in this world. In an orchestra, the top billing is given to the first chair of each instrument. This is the best player of that instrument in the group. But there can by definition be only one per orchestra, and there are not that many orchestras in this world. So too, Biblical history records very few Davids or Peters or Pauls. Those few were wonderful, and God accomplished much through them, but God is not dependent upon a star for His work to be done.

Far more common in history, both secular and sacred, have been the "back-up musicians." They provide the support needed for the star to shine. They supply the harmony that fills in the sound and helps the lead musician's part be even more beautiful.

In non-musical terms, these are the people who make the arrangements, do the busy work, and enable the vast details of everyday ministry to be accomplished. The Bible is full of such figures, from Aaron and Hur "holding up Moses' hands" (Exodus 17:12), to the "other members" of Paul's missionary teams.

One such figure was Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe and assistant. Jeremiah spent much of his life under house arrest, with greatly restricted movement. Baruch not only wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies, he also went into the city and read them to the people.

"Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord's house" (Jeremiah 36:8).

The second Major Prophet of the Old Testament is called "Jeremiah," not "Baruch." It was Jeremiah who was inspired and called to be a prophet. It was Jeremiah who spoke God's word and who ministered to God's people. But without Baruch, how much would the people have heard? Without Baruch (or someone like him) would we have Jeremiah's words today? His role may have been secondary to Jeremiah's, but it was certainly not unimportant.

My work emphasizes the importance of assistants. I plan campaigns months in advance, into areas thousands of miles away. I cannot attend to the many small details needed to make the work come together successfully. But there are many local brothers and sisters who make those arrangements. Their names don't go up on the banners as the speaker, but their contribution is at least as significant as mine. None of us can serve alone. We all need the help of others. One of my favorite statements about the church is,

... the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16).

There are many diverse parts to a body, with each having a particular role to play. The body is most healthy and effective when every part does what it is designed to do. So it is with the Church.

There are many Baruchs today in the world and in the Church. Secretary, executive assistant, intern, apprentice, and many other titles are simply other ways to spell "helper."

The vast majority of us are helpers, not soloists. And that is just fine. I am no musician, but one instrument I can certainly learn to play is "second fiddle." Baruch is a good model from which to learn. Put simply, to play that instrument one simply: (1) does as he is commanded and (2) remains faithful to his appointed role.

God gives us our instructions. Ours is simply to obey his word. God assigned to Jeremiah the role of inspired prophet, and to Baruch that of scribe and reader. Each used the gift (ministry) God had given effectively.

May we be as faithful in using our gifts as these Old Testament characters were in using theirs.

By Michael E. Brooks

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 2:20).

The Jaipalgari district in West Bengal, India is known locally as “the Dooars.” This region lies in the extreme northeast area of India, not far from the countries of Bhutan, China and Bangladesh. Historically it was also near the tiny ancient kingdoms of Sikkim, Assam, and Nagarland, all now a part of India. This location made the region a natural gateway or door into a variety of nations and cultures, hence the nickname.

Life keeps all of us in proximity to a variety of opportunities. We are presented with choices every day. Some of these are material in nature, involving jobs, education, recreation, health, and similar physical matters. Other choices are emotional or spiritual. These may include relationships, attitudes, and religious or philosophical beliefs. Every one of us lives constantly at “the door”, and every presented choice demands a decision.

Jesus’ invitation, expressed in Revelation 2:20, is typical of our choices. We may accept it immediately or refuse it. If we open the door, he will enter. If we fail to open the door, he will stay outside. Notice that those are the only alternatives. It is easy to be deceived into thinking that there is a third option, that of delay. “Not now, but maybe later” is the “decision” many wish to make. In reality, however, it is plain that this is simply a refusal. The door remains closed, and he stays outside.

So it is with all our options. Opportunities knock, and we must either accept or refuse them. The state of Arkansas is filled with people who now talk about their chance to invest with Sam Walton back when Walmart was only a dream. Oh, if they had only said yes. Stock may still be purchased, but the opportunity for huge profit is long passed. Others “could have gone to college” and “made something of themselves” but time has passed and opportunity with it. I am reminded of the quotation several years ago from a famous athlete, known for his life of dissipation and consequent poor health. “If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself.” Good choice, but way too late.

A favorite saying is, “good memories have to be arranged for in advance.” Life is most rewarding if we make our decisions promptly, while opportunity exists, and if we make them based on thoughtful consideration and proper priorities. Decide now where you want your life to lead. Evaluate every choice on the basis of those goals. Open doors that lead in the right direction, and open them at the right time. We all live in “the Dooars.” Let us take good advantage of such a strategic location

by Michael E. Brooks

I arrived back in the United States this week after three months in South Asia. I have endured the normal two days of travel, jet lag, culture shock, and all the by now familiar experiences of my particular version of “mission work”. They have once again reminded me of a number of old truths that have often been well expressed by many more qualified persons than myself, yet remain worthy of frequent repetition.

“Security cannot be achieved by X-rays or body searches.” I for one am willing for airport authorities to do whatever is necessary to guard against terrorism. Yet true security is not a physical matter. “If God is for us who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

“Cultures differ; people remain the same, worldwide.” It is so easy to mistake surface differences for real distinctions between people. So often I hear certain behavior excused because “I’m Bengali” or “That’s the Nepali way,” when in truth, it is just plain sin, common to all people of all places. Dress, language, customs vary, but human nature and needs remain the same. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

“Nothing worthwhile comes without effort.” I feel ashamed to complain about or even notice the “hardships” of modern air travel, knowing the weeks or months of much more difficult travel that was commonplace just a few decades ago among those committed to preaching the gospel. Yet the fact remains that it is an exhausting process to travel long distances. Yet whatever one does that is worth doing requires work. "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it” (Luke 14:28).

“Different doesn’t equal new.” There are those infatuated with anything new. Others cling to the traditional. Things new to us may be practiced frequently by people in other places. Things traditional to us would be new to others who have never seen or known them. Difference and newness are neither good or bad in themselves. Practices and beliefs must be proven by another standard, that of truth. “That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).