Your Presence is a Present

by Tom Goodman

What’s true for Saturday college football teams is true for Sunday church attendance, too: Missing players impact the whole team.

By this point in the college football season, every team is banged up. At my alma mater an injury last Saturday sidelined our star quarterback for the season. Of course, we look forward to what his highly-touted freshman replacement will do. But already the commentators who predicted my team would run the table this season are second-guessing their prognostications.

When you’re not attending, your church misses your involvement as much as a college football fan misses their favorite player.

You may say, “Who me? What’s so vital about someone like me showing up each Sunday? I’m not important.”

Think again. According to scripture you serve others in three ways. These are absolutely essential for the spiritual growth of others and the well-being of your church body.

First: You sing to your church. No, I’m not talking about singing in the choir. Colossians 3:16 says that “you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” When you’re not present, we don’t have your voice teaching and admonishing us through communal singing. Sure, we like to hear the trained voices on stage, but it’s your voice next to us in the pews that Colossians 3:16 says we need.

Second: You encourage your church. It’s not just the pastors and deacons who are responsible to keep the flock on the right path. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we are told that gathering with the church gives us a chance to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Even a brief word to someone in the aisle following the worship program has a powerful impact. Sitting with your small group gives you even more time to perform this ministry.

Third: You support your church. A growing number of members give their offering electronically regardless of their ability to attend. But a majority still base their giving on whether they’re present. If they’re not there, neither is their offering. This significantly impacts the ministry of your church.

You deny your fellow members what they need from you when you let other things replace involvement on Sunday morning. You’re a key player, and you’re missed when you’re missing.

This weekend, set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed, get an extra hour of sleep, and join your church family at 10am. Your presence is a present to others!