San Francisco Chinese Baptist Church 三藩市浸信會

牧者心聲 Pastor's Message

12/06/2009

The Broken Cup Holder

Technician: Hello, this is technical support, how may I help you?
Caller: Hello, can you help me? The cup holder on the front of my computer has broken off.
Technician: Did you say cup holder?
Caller: Yes, the little tray to put your drinks on that slides out from the front of the computer has broken off.
Technician: Was the cup holder installed when you bought the computer, or has it been a customized addition since?
Caller: It came with the computer. The name on the front is 4X.

At this point the technician bursts out laughing as he realizes that the cup holder is actually the CD ROM player!

        Yes, this is a silly but true story that has happened many times over, even to tech support people I know. A person doesn’t understand how the computer works and mistakes this part of the machine as something else. The cd-rom drive is believed to be a convenient device designed to hold one’s drink.

        But beyond the absurdity, this can happen to us. How often do we misunderstand ourselves? Our individual roles in the church? Our spiritual gifts? Below is a list, and is by no means exhaustive. But before I propose the idea that you serve according to the gifts bestowed upon you by God, do you know what your purpose is? Do you know how you are to function in the church? If not, read 1 Cor. 12., and make it a point to find out by asking God in your prayers what your purpose is. Maybe you’re a mouse, a keyboard, or a video card.

        As we expectantly await our Savior’s return during Advent, know that Christ’s second coming doesn’t occur with us sitting idly by. We are to serve in faith and in action while in anticipation of his return. Whatever your purpose may be, just make sure that you know what you are and don’t become a cup holder!

        1 Corinthians 12:28 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

      Brother Benjamin Chung