Added to the Church

A Busy Day

It is another busy day at the plant, and the supervisor approaches with a smile. James and the supervisor are good friends and not just co-workers, “Hey buddy, do you care to stay a little late today to get this inventory done?” James returns the smile and says, “Sure thing, buddy! Not a problem!”

James’ cell phone is ringing again, and the voice on the other end asks, “Do you care to do this for us? I know this is not normally your thing, but we trust you will be the one to get it done.” James always works hard at everything he does and pulls through in the end. So James says, “Yeah, I will get it done for you!” James is known to be the one to get things done. People come to James all the time for this very reason.

James’ neighbor now drops in and says, “Hey, I know this is last minute, but this weekend, could you help my friend move?” James has been on the roll of saying “Yes!” all day. “Sure!” is James reply, and as his neighbor runs off, he yells back, “That is what I love about you, James! You say yes to everything!”

As the door closed, those words echoed in James’ mind. “You say yes to everything!” The truth is that James says no a lot, too. The Christian has the right to say no. “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37).

When to Say Yes and When to Say No

The key is to be able to discern when to say “Yes!” versus “No!” James said “Yes” a lot today, but let us look at what he said no to.  

“Yes,” to the supervisor to work over, said “No” to James’ youngest son, who wanted to play hide and seek before his bedtime. “Yes” to committing to that new thing over the phone, said “No” to Jeanie, who was planning a family activity. “Yes” to helping your neighbor’s friend move over the weekend, said “No” to God on Sunday worship. We see that being a “Yes man” is not always saying “Yes” but telling someone else, like your God, your family, or yourself, “No.” 

Be careful what you are saying yes to. “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16).