If the former interrupts, distorts...
Illustration
If the former interrupts, distorts or replaces the latter, what is merely "good" can become the greatest enemy of the best.
A young man found an opportunity to work after school and weekends in a hardware store during his high school years. He was diligent, responsible, congenial, and well liked -- both by the owner and the customers. He became so popular that patrons sometimes looked specifically for him when coming in to purchase something in particular.
In his senior year in high school the young man's parents talked matter-of-factly about the time "when he would go to the university." Although he was a good scholar, he said to his parents, "But I love working in the hardware store. Mr. Sims says he wouldn't be surprised, what with him getting older and all, that I could become part owner some day."
His parents, over his protests, insisted he go to the university. As a result he became a professional in the helping professions, touching and healing thousands of people in a half-dozen states.
There was nothing wrong with what he did in the hardware store in the small county seat town. But it would have been a waste of his God-given gifts to stay there.
Andrew and another disciple probably gained much by following John the Baptizer. But it would have been a real loss for them, and for Jesus' program, and for us, had they insisted they would rather "stay there in the hardware store."
A young man found an opportunity to work after school and weekends in a hardware store during his high school years. He was diligent, responsible, congenial, and well liked -- both by the owner and the customers. He became so popular that patrons sometimes looked specifically for him when coming in to purchase something in particular.
In his senior year in high school the young man's parents talked matter-of-factly about the time "when he would go to the university." Although he was a good scholar, he said to his parents, "But I love working in the hardware store. Mr. Sims says he wouldn't be surprised, what with him getting older and all, that I could become part owner some day."
His parents, over his protests, insisted he go to the university. As a result he became a professional in the helping professions, touching and healing thousands of people in a half-dozen states.
There was nothing wrong with what he did in the hardware store in the small county seat town. But it would have been a waste of his God-given gifts to stay there.
Andrew and another disciple probably gained much by following John the Baptizer. But it would have been a real loss for them, and for Jesus' program, and for us, had they insisted they would rather "stay there in the hardware store."
