What Will Your Contribution Be? Series

In the movie Emperor's Club Kevin Cline portrays an instructor of Western civilization in a prestigious private school. It is the first day of class, and about 30 high school boys, dressed in matching red jackets, settle into a room adorned with maps and busts of Caesar, Plato, and Socrates. Take a look (show Emperor’s Club—How Will History Remember You video clip).

The professor asks one student to read a plaque above the door. The student is clearly nervous as he leaves his seat and walks to the door. The plaque itself appears to be an ancient artifact.

The student delivers an uncertain reading of an inscription that makes little sense to him:

I am Shutruk Nahunte, King of Ashand and Susa, Sovereign of the Land of Elam. By the Command of Inshushinak, I destroyed Sippar, took the Stele of Nirah-Sin, and brought it back to Elam, where I erected it as an offering to my God, Inshushinak. Shutruk Nahunte 1158 B.C.

The teacher then asks the class, "Is anyone familiar with this fellow? Texts are permissible, but you won't find him there. Shutruk Nahunte. King. Sovereign of Elam. Destroyer of Sippar. But behold his accomplishments cannot be found in any history book. Why? Because great ambition and conquest without contribution are without significance."

He ends by posing this question: "What will your contribution be?" (Emperor's Club, Universal, 2002, directed by Michael Hoffman, written by Neil Tolkin, 00:07:39 to 00:09:00; www.PreachingToday.com).

What will your contribution be? People can be very busy, even very powerful, but accomplish nothing of lasting value. How about you? Do you want to make a significant contribution to the lives of others? Then I invite you to turn with me to 1 Corinthians 14, 1 Corinthians 14, where the Bible describes how God’s people can make significant contributions to each other and to those who don’t know Jesus yet.

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up (ESV).

Paul is contrasting the gift of tongues with the gift of prophecy, and He says the gift of prophecy is better for building up the church. Speaking in a foreign language (even a prayer language) benefits only the speaker, because no one else understands that language. However, proclaiming God’s Word in a language people understand benefits everyone. It builds them up, increasing their potential. It encourages them, helping them pursue God’s will, and it comforts them, bringing calm in a time of turmoil.

So, if you want to make a significant contribution to the lives of others, use your spiritual gifts to benefit others, not just yourself. That’s the essence of love—seeking another’s benefit above your own. And that’s the way to make a real difference in people’s lives.

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD INSTRUCTIVELY.

Express yourself in useful terms. Speak in ways that edify or build others up.

Warren Wiersbe put it this way: In your ministry, aim at edification, not entertainment (paraphrased from The Bible Exposition Commentary). Pursue improving people, not impressing them with yourself.

Richard Dahlstrom went rock climbing with his friend Kevin, a more experienced climber, who served as Richard’s belayer. Now, the belayer holds the rope to keep the climber from falling to the ground. On this particular climb, Richard was exhausted and ready to quit, so he politely asked Kevin to help him get back to the ground, but Kevin refused.

“Falling,” Richard shouts, and Kevin put a brake on the rope. After a few feet Richard comes to a stop, hanging and spinning around while new blood delivers recovery energy to his fingers and his spent arm.

Richard cries, “I'm done, man. Lower!” expecting Kevin to lower him to the ground and congratulate him on a good try.

Instead, Kevin says, “I'm not lowering ya, man. You can climb that.”

“Funny,” Richard replies, thinking Kevin is trying to be funny. “Lower, please.”

“Not funny,” Kevin says, laughing. “You. Can. Climb. That.” He speaks in staccato, punctuating each word to make sure Richard hears him. Richard continues to spin, hanging from the rope, about forty-five feet in the air. “Try it again,” Kevin shouts.

And Richard thinks, “Who is this person, telling me what I can and can't do? Friends don't let friends dangle in midair, do they? What did I ever like about him? “No, really. I'm finished,” Richard cries out.