Several years ago I was employed by a city government. I started the job at nineteen and it was my first exposure to full-time employment. After working for sometime I began noticing something strange. Not all people did the same amount of work. Some worked really hard, while others barely did enough to get by.

I have heard this described as the 80-20 Rule. A general rule that states 80% of the work is completed by only 20% of employees. Wow! Seeing this rule carried out so well at my government job didn’t seem right. Well, it must only be in the private world. Right?

Latter as I moved into ministry work I was shocked to find the same rule in place. 20% of people in church are doing 80% of the work (volunteering, tithing, etc...). Can this be true? Are you telling me that 80% percent of Christians are almost worthless? Yes I am! (if that just offended you I bet you’re not part of the 20%). Just keep reading.

Jesus addressed this issue when he said in Revelations 3:15-16 (NLT),

“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

This 80-20 rule may be “acceptable” in the business world, but God is clear, with Christians, he expects action. You see receiving Jesus (salvation, born again, faith, etc) and taking action (volunteering, serving, tithing, sharing, etc...) go hand and hand. Check this out:

James 2:14-17 (The Message), “Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?”

As believers, we are called to be people of action. We are called to serve others, to volunteer & tithe at our church, to share Christ, and... Nothing less than to radically change the world for our awesome Savior! We Christians need to get off our butts, stop “praying” about it (if I hear “I am praying about it” from one more person...) and TAKE ACTION.

It is time for all of us to step up. Just imagine what the full 100% working together could accomplish! Are you unsure? Overwhelmed? Busy? Scared? Me too! But remember, great things always start with one small step.

Ike
ike@foot2water.com

PS: Check out these guys and gals from Pope Drive Baptist Church taking great steps by serving their community over the past weekend by cleaning up a city park. Great job Pope Drive!