In the old days, cities regulated downtown parking with meters. You park, drop in a nickel or dime and get some time on the meter. Then you’d go into the store and be sure to be back before the meter ran out of time.
However, occasionally, you could find a spot with time left on the meter. In that case, you would “park on someone else’s nickel!”
Someone has said: “We eat from orchards we did not plant. We drink from wells we did not dig. We reap from fields we did not sow. We are warmed by fires we did not kindle. We are sheltered by roofs we did not build. We are blessed by moneys we did not give.”
In the Lord’s Church, each person has job. That’s Paul’s point in 1 Cor. 12. We have a responsibility to our congregation to use our talents to help the Lord’s Church grow. Are you using your talents, time and resources for the Lord? Or are you simply parking on someone else’s nickel? Consider these verses:
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).
“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10).
“… serve one another humbly in love” (Galatians 5:13b).
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).
Larry Fitzgerald
Abilene, TX
