“All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee” Numbers 18:12

 

I am now running the danger of classifying myself as a grumbling missionary, but I can assure you what is coming needs to be said and there is a true and humorous story to go along with it.

 

I am certain that God wants to be first place in all of our lives.  I am also certain that he deserves this place as well.  One of the problems that Independent Baptist Churches have faced through the years is that many of our members view the church as a place to unload their unwanted junk. 

 

For example your refrigerator is on its last leg and about to die.  Best Buy is having a great sale and no interest financing so you go out and buy the latest and the greatest and have it delivered.  Now you have a dilemma, what do I do with the old one?  A normal person would have it hauled to the dump, after all you replaced it because it was junk, but wait, you are a member of _____________ Baptist Church, so you can just give it to the church.  Funny how it's junk when you want to replace it but it works good when you want to give it to the church.  Not unlike going to trade in a car with 100,000 miles on it and you will be told it is worn out and worthless (which is why you want rid of it in the first place) but look to buy one with the same mileage and that same salesman will tell you it has just been broken in. After all, is a new refrigerator or at least one that works to much for God?

 

One place that much of this discarded stuff winds up is in missions closets.  Don’t get me wrong, missions closets are a wonderful thing.  My family and I have gotten many things we needed out of church missions closets and have thanked the Lord for every trip through every missions closet.  I remember one time we were visiting a large church and they took us through their missions closet that was full of very nice things,  the whole time my wife was looking I was salivating over an all in one coffee maker espresso machine and coffee grinder, which I left setting on the shelf.  On the way home Carmen asked “why didn’t you get the coffee maker”?  I responded with the thought that made me leave it on the shelf “I don’t need it”.  After driving a few miles in silence she asked the big question “Do you really think anyone will need that?”  However, I hope who ever got it enjoys it.  Any time we have been working with a church that has a missions closet we have tried to stress to the people “don’t bring in your junk” but rather if you need shampoo this week, buy an extra and put it in the missions closet.  Shoe polish next week, same thing…you get the idea, or at least I hope so. 

 

Now the humorous story that illustrates my point.  We were in a hotel room getting ready for church, when I went to put on my deodorant and realized I was all out.  Now I had a dilemma, stink or use that stuff that is strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.  With no time for a store run I bit the bullet and told Carmen “throw me your deodorant”  to which she responded “wait I got you some out of a missions closet a few days ago”. After rummaging in the suitcase for a few minutes she tosses me a stick of Bruit 33, far from my fist choice but it will work just fine.  When I take the cap off to use it I find that it is well used and covered with armpit hair…………Ugggh  I tossed it in the trash, used hers and stopped at the store after church.

 

At the time this happened I was about 98% sure what church it came from.   Had I been 100% I would have mailed it back.  God is not interested in your used deodorants and worn out furniture and appliances.  Remember give Him what’s Right, not what’s left.

  

One of the great things about sharing these stories is the realization that I couldn’t make this stuff up if I wanted to.