Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: July 19, 2009
“IT IS NOT WORTH THE EFFORT . . .!”
Andrew M. Connally
So often the ole Devil seeks to discourage us by hindering the Lord’s work. He is a master at discouraging the
brethren. He knows every trick and ploy. So often godly saints want to quit and say . . . “It is not worth the
effort . . .”
Often elders grow discouraged because sheep stray and reject all efforts to restore them. Many members could
care less that brethren grow weak and die spiritually, so they become grounds of discouragement by hindering the
reclamation and discipline of lost members. Elders often feel . . . “It is not worth the effort . . .”
Often deacons grow discourage because so few will cooperate with them in getting the job done. Other deacons
do not bear their fair share of the load and this discourages too. They say too . . . “It is not worth the effort . . .”
Often Bible school teachers grow discouraged. Students do not study their lessons, and if comments are made,
half are wrong or off the point! Many act as if Bible study is an “optional expedient” instead of “growth unto
salvation.” Then the old expression arises . . . “It is not worth the effort . . .”
Often preachers despair. People often fail to react as they should to the word. Preacher’s words and actions are
often misunderstood, misrepresented or actually opposed, so he becomes discouraged. After years of study,
application and faithful service a handful of brethren can destroy the preacher’s work by getting the ear of the
eldership, so the preacher says . . . “It is not worth the effort . . .”
All of us have felt this on occasions about something we are doing for the Lord’s cause. But through it all we
must remember that what we do, we do for God! Many times it takes tremendous effort to persevere in our work
in the Kingdom. Only those who have been there really understand the unremitting toil, sacrifice, time and
effort and even money it takes to continually achieve for the Master. No one else may even notice, must less
sympathize or help. But God notices. God cares. God is concerned and God will ultimately make it all right.
It may not be worth the effort if it is for money we serve or for favor or popularity or for any of a hundred other
causes. But for God it is worth it! Hand in there!
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“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart
as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
(Jeremiah 20:9)
“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither but watereth the earth, and
maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be
that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall prosper in the thing whereto I
sent it.”
(Isaiah 55:10-11)
WHAT’S WRONG WITH LIVING TOGETHER BEFORE MARRIAGE?
Robin W. Haley
As common as a practice might be, participation in it still must be authorized for it to be legitimate. "Everybody's
doing it!" is a common plea made by young people who want to follow the crowd in an activity of which their
parents do not approve.
An interesting statement is made in the Old Testament book of Exodus chapter 23 which fits just here. Moses
said: "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." Perhaps you remember your parents saying to you, or maybe
you have said to your children, "Would you go along with everybody else if they were jumping off a cliff?" (or
something like this??)
So, what about our title for this article? What is wrong with such a practice? Is it not evident and obvious that so
many are living together without, as it used to be said, the benefit of marriage? Are not our laws and government
making it "beneficial" for people to live together without marriage? Are not businesses being "forced" at times to
offer "family benefits" or "partner benefits" for those who are not married to one another? The real question that
ought to be considered in such a discussion as this might be: Does the majority practice make a thing right?
Remember your history lessons regarding the Nazis in pre-World War Two Germany? Remember what was
discovered at the close of World War Two at the concentration camps, work camps, and death camps? Since a
society went along with a practice, did that make it right? Why were "war criminals" put on trial for something an
entire society (or at least that society's leadership) approved? You might answer: "Well, that was immoral!" Just
so! Living together before marriage is not a societal question, but rather a moral one.
So, what does the Bible teach regarding this practice? First, we must understand that marriage is the invention
of God, not mankind. At the beginning of our world, God said, "it is not good that the man should be alone"
(Genesis 2.18). God made a woman for the man, and Moses wrote: "therefore shall a man leave his father and his
mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh" (verse 24).
In the New Testament, the writer of the book of Hebrews said, "Let marriage be had in honor among all, and let
the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb 13:4 ASV).
Fornication is having a sexual relationship with one who is not your spouse. There are all sorts of categories of
fornication. Adultery is the sexual relationship one has with the spouse of another. Adultery is thus one form of
fornication. It should be easy to see that God has contrasted marriage (honorable) with fornication (living
together, etc.) as something to be judge or condemned.
One final passage ought to show us that living together is sinful and wrong. Paul wrote these words to the
Corinthians: "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, nor thieves, nor
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
God bless you as you study His word and strive to live morally! Thanks for reading.