The TV show Jeopardy has been around for years, and been a daily staple of
education for America. Things trivial and also formally taught, it is amazing
all the facts and figures that are out there. Once only available from Jeopardy
via the encyclopedia, who reads those things anyway, we now have the internet to
how our trivial fixation fulfilled. But Jeopardy is as much a game of knowledge
as it is of skill, speed must accompany the correct answer. Too slow, you lose,
too fast, you lose also. But one time in Mr. Koch’s history class, my Jeopardy
recall made me a hero in our knowledge bowl. Always trying to outfox us ninth
graders, his final question of the contest was “who was Schuyler Colfax?” And I
knew! And I had learned it on Jeopardy! It seems no one else on the panel that
day did either, but I remembered Art Fleming revealing the answer, “he was
Andrew Johnson’s vice president.” A fact I never forgot. And for that moment
in time I was the genius, until I revealed my source. Quit while you are
ahead.
But too often contestants ring in too soon, not reading the whole answer.
For example, “ he lived at Monticello and...” someone rings in. “Thomas
Jefferson.” Wrong. The next guy reads the whole question, “he lived at
Monticello and was Jefferson’s favorite horse.” And gives the right answer,
wins the game. Patience in Jeopardy too can be a virtue. And no, I have no
idea who the horse was. I was the guy who rang in too early. Or the horse
Schuyler Colfax rode either. And the horse you rode in on....
I ask pastors “what is the most important quality of a pastor?” The
answers range from “knowing the word,” to “being a good speaker,” and all in
between. Not one has ever given the right answer, “a good listener.” A fact I
learned from Jeopardy. Yet so many point me directly to a scripture before
hearing the question, and then have to back track. A position that should have
wisdom, sometimes only falls short by having knowledge. How can you answer a
question if you don’t listen and hear the entire question? Yet in this world of
sound bites, we have become just that. Call it selective hearing, I call it
lousy ministering. You decide.
But we are given situations every day to listen and respond, and when we
respond outside of the holy spirit, we fall short. I know of a group who gives
out apples to the poor, who cannot eat them because of no teeth. Or those who
give out microwave meals to the homeless. Duh? And while the church says “well
done,” it wasn’t. Did they ever think of the homeless, or just of themselves?
We feel good doing the various walks to cure this and that, toy runs to give
toys to the poor, but how about daily living? Do we listen to what the spirit
is saying, or just what we want to hear? Do we hear Jesus’ complete words, or
cut him off mid-sentence? He would have listened, do you?
So when some well meaning person goes with us to minister for the first
time, they ask what should I do? My answer may seem harsh, but direct, “shut up
and listen.” How do you know how to answer if you haven’t? And one night, when
this well meaning, but “I came to preach the word” girl came with us, she found
out why. An old lady, who could barely walk, was coming up the stairs, I met
her and helped her. I asked her name, told her mine, and was listening, when
Ms. Preacher interrupted, “do you know Jesus? You’re a sinner, he can save
you.” And this frail old homeless woman proved my point. While the girl
started to quote scripture, this woman countered her with it. Totally putting
her in her place, lovingly, but reminding her, “I may be homeless, but I know
Jesus. And you are doing a lousy job of evangelizing.” You see,she had to go
to the bathroom, that was her need for the moment. Seems even Christians can’t
hold it forever....I was meeting a need, ministering to her, treating her with
respect, the girl was never invited back. Her church training had let her
down. I wonder how she would do on Jeopardy?
Maybe a quick reminder of Mary annointing the feet of Jesus is in order
here. Good enough to be in the Bible, good enough to make us stop and listen.
And repeat. There are times to meet physical needs, time for meeting spiritual
needs. Mary had insight as to his death, and was annointing him with oil, a
celebration of what was to come. She didn’t know if she would have the chance
later, so did it now. Spending a year’s wages on the feet of our Lord. While
Martha complained. Mary listened to the spirit and responded, Martha only saw a
meal and the effort to prepare it. Both saw Jesus, and had a chance to worship
him, only one responded giving him the glory. One answered the cry of her
heart, the other rang in too soon. And when Martha interfered, Jesus told her
“leave her alone. She has done a beautiful thing to me.”
That night on the stairs, I was celebrating Jesus by showing this woman
love, meeting her need, walking her up the stairs. I heard what the spirit
said. Think a minute, how long can you hold it? How long had she been holding
it? How long had Mary been looking for a chance to worship Jesus, and when she
saw the opportunity, took it. Regardless of cost, or what her sister would
say. Do we celebrate Jesus by completing his words, “whoever gives to the least
of them, does it unto me.” How would Jesus have greeted the woman on the
stairs, how would you? Do you ring in too soon with knowledge, and miss the
whole statement? Are you missing a chance to relate to Jesus and worship him?
Jesus told us “he who has an ear let him hear,” he didn’t say “he who has a
mouth let him speak.” Funny how you can control your mouth, but not your ears.
Mary’s worship of Jesus is recorded and retaught every day. Do we take the
message of Jesus in love and worship to others, or are we to busy cooking to
forget who we are serving? Two women, only one had the sensitivity of heart.
How would you have greeted the woman on the steps, what if she was you? How
would you like to be treated?
The things we do are timely, and feasible. Some needs greater, some
lesser, but needs none the less. Listen to what the spirit says, and then obey.
Trust what Jesus wants you to do, and never mess an opportunity to worship him
in your actions. Mary saw the poor would always be around, she seized the
chance to worship Jesus. We see it the opposite, we see Jesus in church, and
fail to see poor all around. Don’t ring in too soon, you may have the right
answer, but the wrong question. The man who thinks he knows all the answers
hasn’t heard all the questions. And by the way, Jefferson’s horse was named
Caractus....who one time threw him and broke TJ’s arm...but that’s another
story.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com