Published 9/30/19
By Greg Johnson
What If...
“It’s going to be a blast,” you tell your best friend on the phone. “First we meet at the church with our sleeping bags, pillows and pack, then we load up the vans and head out into the wilderness1 It only takes about an hour, and when we get there all the leaders cook the food while the kids go exploring. We get to stay up as late as we want, eat s’mores, tell stories... you’ll love it!”
Your friend is convinced and ready to go!
A week later you’re at the church, loading up and heading out. Even if it’s just an overnighter, it’s as exciting as a week at camp.
After an hour in the van, you pull into the camp. Your friend gives you a look to say, This place is perfect!
“OK, let’s put our stuff away and find out what’s around here,” you say.
“Campers! Campers!” the leader yells, trying to get everyone’s attention. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before dinner, so we need everyone to pitch in. You six go with Mr. Maxwell. You’ve got the dinner detail. You four (pointing at you, your friend and two other campers) go with Mr. Abbott and start setting up the tents for the rest of us. It should take you until dinner time. You seven go find as much firewood as you can. We’ll need it pretty soon ‘cause it’s getting dark. OK, let’s get it done.”
Your friend gives you that I thought this was going to be a vacation look.
“It wasn’t like this last year,” you say. “Last year the adults did everything and we just ran around.”
Mr. Abbott overhears what you’ve said. “Yeah, but that wasn’t any fun. You didn’t learn anything. This year we’re a team. And everyone’s important. We’ve all got to help if we’re going to get things done. Let’s get to work.”
Work?
Questions to Think On
• How would you feel about having to pitch into help get the camp ready?
• Do you pitch in at home to help around the house and yard?
• How is a family like a team? What would happen if one of the teammates didn’t do his or her job?
• When you are asked to do things around the house, what is your first reaction? How could that get better?
What Does God Have to Say?
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
(c)
Comments