THE PROPER AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE FULL-TIME SERVING ONES

Message Six
Letting No One Despise Your Youth
(Character, Living, and Relationship with the Church and Fellow Workers)

Scripture Reading: 1 Tim. 4:12; Rom. 12:11; 1 Tim. 3:2, 11; Titus 2:2, 12; Eph. 1:23; Phil. 4:3

I. Character is the life-pulse of service; we need to have a good character to meet the Lord’s need in this age; character depends wholly on our continual exercise to develop the habits of our daily living—Phil. 4:8-9:

A. The degree of our pursuit of the truth and learning in life depend on the extent of our character training; your ability to cut straight the word of the truth depends on whether or not you have built up your character—2 Tim. 2:15.

B. Although we have been regenerated, we may not have had that much transformation, and even if we have had some amount of transformation, not much is seen in our character; I hope you are clear about this point so that you would exercise in your character—2 Cor. 3:18.

C. Romans 12 speaks concerning the Body life, four matters are mentioned—being diligent, not being slothful, being fervent in spirit, and serving the Lord; apparently these matters are not involved with our character, but actually they are altogether related to our character—Rom. 12:11.

D. Our natural character is not suitable for the building; for the building up of the church, your character, as well as mine, must be broken—Mark 14:3:

1. To build a meeting hall, for example, we need bricks, wood, stone, and steel; to build all these materials together requires that we break them.

2. Suppose a piece of wood or a brick wanted to keep its original appearance and refused to have its long parts cut off, its wide parts sawn off, or its sharp edges sanded down; consequently, it would have no way to participate in the building.

II. From your youth you have to pay attention to your daily living so that you will be healthy and will live longer on the earth; by the Lord’s grace, you should receive this kind of exhortation so that you might prolong your days on earth and be more useful in the Lord’s hand—1 Tim. 3:2, 11; Titus 2:2, 12:

A. Clothing—1 Tim.2:9; Exo. 20:26:

1. In 1 Timothy Paul says that we should adorn ourselves in proper clothing; to dress properly means to dress in a way that does not appear peculiar to other people—1 Tim.2:9.

2. In the matter of attire you should exercise not to be wasteful but to be clean, neat, and dignified, so that when you go out, you will have a proper appearance.

B. Eating—Col. 2:16:

1. Do not eat under stress, eat in haste, or eat without control; do not pay too much attention to the taste of the food that you eat; rather, pay attention to the nutrition that you receive from it; learn to eat a regular amount; as much as possible eat at a regular time—Gal. 5:23.

2. Do not eat too many sweet things; avoid eating any heavily-seasoned food; salted food is the worst; while you are still young, learn to eat food without grease and heavy seasoning, and over a period of time you will be accustomed to it.

C. Your living quarters should be arranged in a clean, simple, plain, and elegant way; our bedrooms should be clean and neat; we should have a habit of cleanliness.

D. Resting and being active—Prov. 3:24:

1. You should sleep at night and avoid constantly burning the midnight oil; it is best to sleep early and rise early—Mark 16:2.

2. You should exercise regularly, either doing calisthenics or “shadowboxing”; it is good to have a little exercise after each meal—1 Tim.4:8.

E. We need to learn to live a healthy life; first of all, you should pay attention to your diet; be sure to drink sufficient water; you must have at least half an hour of exercise every day; for the sake of our physical health, we should not quarrel with people—Phil. 2:14.

III. Wherever you go, wherever you are, wherever you stay, and wherever you serve, you should be one with the church; you must keep this as a basic principle that controls your entire being—John 17:11, 21-23.

A. You should be submissive to the leading ones; regardless whether the leading ones are not as good as you are in your consideration, or how intelligent you may be, you must consider God’s arrangement and His sovereignty and take them as the leading ones—Heb. 13:17.

B. You should love all the saints; in John 13 the Lord particularly teaches us to love one another; genuine love has no terms and no conditions—John 13:34.

C. You must learn to coordinate with all the members in one spirit; you may love others, but you just cannot go along with them; you cannot coordinate; this is the greatest weakness that you all have to avoid—Phil. 1:27a.

IV. It is not enough for one who serves the Lord to have a proper relationship only with the community and the church; there is still another relationship that is more direct than the relationship with the community and with the church; that relationship is the relationship among the co-workers—Rom. 16:3; Philem. 1:1:

A. The relationship among the co-workers is the most difficult relationship because the sphere of the work of the co-workers is the Body of Christ; the Body of Christ is universal, whereas the local churches are local—Phil. 2:25.

1. This can be compared to the members in our physical body; all the members, whether big or small, must maintain a good relationship with the entire body; once there is a problem in a part of the body, the whole body suffers—1 Cor. 12:26.

2. The work is also universal; we must learn this lesson from the beginning of our service; we should never have problems with our fellow workers; when we have a problem with a co-worker, we have a problem with all the co-workers—cf. Acts 15:36-40.

B. We are serving as co-workers not only in Taiwan but also in all the continents; there is a coordination among the co-workers; this coordination, which is similar to the coordination of our physical body, is universal—1 Cor. 3:9.

1. The relationship among the serving ones begins locally and then spreads; the Body of Christ is universal; the work is also universal.

2. Therefore, once we enter into the coordination of co-workers, our relationship becomes broader; we are serving in Taipei, but we are also related to those who are serving in New Zealand, because whatever we do will affect them either directly or indirectly.

Ministry Excerpts:

Character Being the Life-Pulse of Service

The character that you build up during the training has to become your habit and eventually your daily life. No matter how busy I am in my daily life, I make my bed when I get up every day, unless my wife voluntarily does it for me. After I change, I do not place my clothes in random places. I always place them neatly in specific places. Sometimes when I get up in the middle of the night, I do not even need to turn on the light to find my clothes. I can reach out my hand and know exactly where they are. Character depends wholly on our continual exercise to develop the habits of our daily living. If you cannot even set your clothes straight, how can you cut straight the word of the truth? Your ability to cut straight the word of the truth depends on whether or not you have built up your character. These two matters are very much related to one another. Our bedrooms should be clean and neat. We should have a habit of cleanliness. Cleanliness is the characteristic that the Chinese culture lacks the most. You cannot say that it does not matter if your bedroom is a mess, it is all right since the main purpose of a bedroom is to have a place to sleep. You must remember that when your room is in order, then your preaching will be orderly, your work will be orderly, and your leading of the church will also be orderly. If your room looks improper, then when you manage the church affairs, you will make a mess of them as well. I am not saying that you need to decorate your room in an excessive, wasteful, or particular manner. I am saying that since you are a human being and not a beast, you should have a decent living place. If possible, you should obtain flowers and plants to help uplift your spirit. (Vessels Useful to the Lord, ch. 5)

Our Character Needing to Be Broken That We May Participate in the Building

In the experience of life, the Lord transforms us after we are saved and after He sanctifies us. Based on my own experience, the most difficult part of the Lord’s transformation work is the transformation of our character. It is easy to correct a mistake, but it is very difficult to change our character. The Chinese have a saying which says, “Mountains and rivers can be easily changed, but a person’s nature is difficult to change.” Although we have been regenerated, we may not have had that much transformation, and even if we have had some amount of transformation, not much is seen in our character. I hope you are clear about this point so that you would exercise to be properly transformed in your character.

To build a meeting hall, for example, we need bricks, wood, stone, and steel. To build all these materials together requires that we break them. Suppose a piece of wood or a brick wanted to keep its original appearance and refused to have its long parts cut off, its wide parts sawn off, or its sharp edges sanded down. Consequently, it would have no way to participate in the building. A meeting hall can be built only because every single piece of material has been broken and not one piece remains intact. Similarly, if our character is too strong, and we are not willing to be broken, then it will be impossible for us to participate in the building.

Our Greatest Enemy Being Our Character

The Bible says that the last enemy of God is death (1 Cor. 15:26). According to my observation, however, character is the last enemy for those of us who love and pursue the Lord. Twenty years ago a good foundation was laid for our work in the Far East, especially in Taiwan. Yet in the twenty years since then, although by the Lord’s mercy our work has not declined, there has not been much development. What is the reason for the lack of development? The reason is not the world, sin, or the influence of material wealth. It is our troublesome character. Our Chinese character is too loose and passive. Without outward pressure in the environment, we become self-content at a certain stage and thus delay the Lord’s work.

The Greatest Hindrance to the Lord’s Work in His Recovery Being Our Character

Our work in the Far East in the last twenty years has suffered from this character of everything being “about the same.” The Lord Jesus rebuked the church in Laodicea for having such an attitude, saying, “You are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot” (Rev. 3:15). If we are cold or hot, the Lord has a way. When we are neither cold nor hot, the Lord has no way. More than twenty years ago, we had the highest rate of increase of any country in eastern Asia. Even the opposers could not deny that we had the best gospel work on the island of Taiwan. However, today others have overtaken us. What is the reason? After analyzing our history in the past twenty years, we must confess that our character has been too loose. (Vessels Useful to the Lord, ch. 6)

Learning and Being Trained in 0ur Daily Living

The burden of this message is to cover some practical matters in your living so that as young people pursuing to serve the Lord, you may receive some practical training and learning in three main categories—eating, clothing, and sleeping and exercise. Sleeping is inactive whereas exercise is active. I am going to teach you something practical about food, clothing, and being inactive and active. Do not think that being active or inactive are small matters. If you are inactive when you should be active, or if you are active when you should be inactive, you will have great problems and much trouble. Therefore, you must be trained in these matters.

Therefore, from your youth you have to pay attention to your daily living so that you will be healthy and will live longer on the earth. You should not think that since you are young, you are very useful and can be used to do many things. This may cause you to use your body excessively. Of course, you are useful while you are young, but you will be more useful as you become older. No one desires to die early; everyone wants to live longer. I can tell you that the secret to good health depends on eating, resting, and exercising properly. Eating refers to our diet, resting refers mainly to our sleep, and exercise refers to our activities, our bodily exercise.

Eating

When I was young, I did not pay proper attention to my eating. I was always under stress and busy, and sometimes I ate without restraint. Consequently, I developed stomach problems very early in life. Before I reached the age of thirty, I already had a very serious stomach problem. Therefore, you have to be warned. Do not eat under stress, eat in haste, or eat without control. Second, do not pay too much attention to the taste of the food that you eat; rather, pay attention to the nutrition that you receive from it. You should know something about nutrition, and you should also have a little knowledge about such things as oil, sugar, salt, and meat. Third, learn to eat a regular amount—avoid eating too much at times and too little at others. Perhaps in these days you frequently fast. Although this is very good, you should not do it too irregularly. To do so will ruin your stomach. Fourth, as much as possible eat at a regular time. According to your present schedule, I am afraid that you may not eat at regular times. You may either skip supper or eat after the meetings. This is not right. This may be acceptable occasionally, but in the long run you will have stomach problems.

Resting and Being Active

Regarding resting, you should sleep at night and avoid constantly burning the midnight oil. It is best to sleep early and rise early. Generally speaking, this is the proper way. After lunch you should have at least ten minutes to close your eyes and rest. It is best if you can lie down and take a short nap. However, to nap for more than an hour is excessive.

You should consider exercise and being active as your recreation and leisure, but you must be careful not to fall into sin. It is necessary to be active for the sake of your physical health. Therefore, you should exercise regularly, either doing calisthenics or “shadowboxing” for at least twenty minutes each day. Moreover, it is good to have a little exercise after each meal. There is a Chinese saying—“Walk a hundred steps after every meal; live for ninety and nine years.” Doctors, nurses, and all those who are experienced know that eating meals in bed or refraining from any activity after eating is detrimental to one’s health. Doctors even encourage the patients who are confined in bed to try to stand up for a while or to take a little walk after meals if possible. (Vessels Useful to the Lord, ch. 12)

Clothing

The purpose of clothing in the Bible is first for covering, and second, for protecting oneself from the cold. Once our shame is covered, we look pleasant before God. However, today people in the world love to expose themselves. Suppose a brother were to come to the meeting in shorts with his calves and knees exposed. If he preached to you wearing shorts, would you be able to receive what he said?

Paul was wise. He did not go into detail concerning the matter of clothing. He mentioned only that our clothing should be proper. The word proper is deep in meaning and broad in definition. Today as you are learning to serve the Lord and to contact people, your clothing should be proper. When you stand up to speak for the Lord, many people will be listening to you and watching you. Thus, you must be careful about your speaking and your behavior, and you must learn how to dress.

The colors of your tie and suit should match. They also should not be overly plain, lest they draw unnecessary attention. The colors of your socks should also match the color of your suit. Suppose a brother wears light brown shoes, purple and red socks, and a gray suit with a blue tie. If he were to speak to me, I would not be able to listen to what he was saying because I would be distracted by his shoes, socks, suit, and tie. (Vessels Useful to the Lord, ch. 12)

One with the Church

Wherever you go, wherever you are, wherever you stay, and wherever you serve, you should be one with the church. Although that church is different in appearance and in a few practices, that is still the church. You have to be one with the church. This is based upon the Lord’s teaching. Even in His prayer of aspiration, He desired that all of His believers would be one (John 17:21). There are at least four verses in John 17 in which the Lord refers to the oneness. You must keep this as a basic principle that controls your entire being. Since the church is one, you have to be one with the church.

Submissive to the Leading Ones

Second, you should be submissive to the leading ones (Heb. 13:17). Quite often a number of saints consider the leading ones in other churches to be very good, but not the leading ones in their church. They consider that it is better for them to be the leader because they could do a better job. They would not be so willing to go along with these leading ones. However, you should not think this way. The United States does have a particular advantage in its election process. Before the actual election day when people vote, many different things are spoken and done. But once a candidate is elected president and ushered into his office, then immediately all the Americans take his leadership. Among 240 million Americans, there may be another ten, twenty, or even fifty who are more intelligent and much more capable than the president. But we do not hear the voice of revolution. They all take that one leadership. It should be the same with us. Regardless whether the leading ones are not as good as you are in your consideration, or how intelligent you may be, you must consider God’s arrangement and His sovereignty and take them as the leading ones. Similarly, we have to believe that it is under God’s sovereignty that our president has been elected into office. Likewise, there should not be different voices in a local church. (Instruction and Exhortation to the Trainees, ch. 3)

Loving All the Saints

Third, you should love all the saints. In John 13 the Lord particularly teaches us to love one another. Genuine love has no terms and no conditions. It does not mean that when others are good in your eyes, you love them, and when you feel that they are not good, you do not love them.

Coordinating with All the Members in One Spirit

Fourth, you must learn to coordinate with all the members in one spirit (Phil. 1:27a). This is really hard for us to learn. You may love others, but you just cannot go along with them. You cannot coordinate. This is the greatest weakness that you all have to avoid. Through the years, I have seen a lot of things in the church life. Two or three brothers might quarrel for half an hour over the way to arrange the chairs. They did not merely talk, but quarrel. Even among the sisters some insist to use a dry cloth to dust the furniture. Others insist to use a wet cloth. Their debate became a case that was brought to the attention of the elders for a decision. This is too much. If some sisters prefer to dust with something wet, just let them do it. The others have to learn the lesson and vice versa. As long as it is mopped or dusted, that is good enough. If you could not give up your opinion, you have to learn more lessons in the church life. We do not know, naturally speaking, how opinionated we are. Sometimes we criticize a person about his tie. This exposes our opinions. We must kill all of our opinions. Then we can coordinate, in spite of many differences, with all of the members of the Body of Christ for building up and service. (Instruction and Exhortation to the Trainees, ch. 3)

Maintaining a Proper Relationship with Fellow Workers

Just as one person cannot play ball alone but must play with others as a team, so a person cannot serve the Lord alone; he must have co-workers. It is not enough for one who serves the Lord to have a proper relationship only with the community and the church. There is still another relationship that is more direct than the relationship with the community and with the church. That relationship is the relationship among the co-workers. This is the most difficult relationship because the sphere of the work of the co-workers is the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is universal, whereas the local churches are local. A full-time serving one in the college work in Taipei is in direct coordination with the brothers and sisters in Taipei who take part in the college work, and he must maintain a proper relationship with them. However, he must also maintain a proper relationship with the other full-time serving ones who are in coordination in the college work in other localities. If this relationship is not proper, the work will be hindered. In addition to the college work, there are co-workers serving in junior high schools, in high schools, in the community, with the small groups, and in the children’s work. He must also maintain a proper relationship with all these serving ones.

Our view must be broadened. Not only should the co-workers in the smaller sphere of the church in Taipei have a proper relationship among themselves, but the co-workers in all the churches in Taiwan should also maintain a good relationship. This can be compared to the members in our physical body. All the members, whether big or small, must maintain a good relationship with the entire body. Once there is a problem in a part of the body, the whole body suffers. We should not think that having a problem with those who coordinate with us is only a personal matter that will not affect others. Any such problem will affect the whole Body.

The Coordination of the Co-workers Being of the Body

According to God’s sovereignty, His move is matched by the developments in the world. The developments in communication and transportation have made the earth smaller. Events that take place in one part of the earth are immediately known in other places. The Lord has had mercy on His recovery. Even though the total number of saints in the recovery is not large, in the past twenty years this testimony has spread to all continents—Australia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Hence, we are serving as co-workers not only in Taiwan but also in all the continents. There is a coordination among the co-workers. This coordination, which is similar to the coordination of our physical body, is universal. This is the Lord’s doing. The Lord has given us a picture in the physical realm and the reality in the spiritual realm. Therefore, once we enter into the coordination of co-workers, our relationship becomes broader. We are serving in Taipei, but we are also related to those who are serving in New Zealand, because whatever we do will affect them either directly or indirectly. For this reason, we must broaden our view.

The relationship among the serving ones begins locally and then spreads. The Body of Christ is universal. The work is also universal. We must learn this lesson from the beginning of our service. We should never have problems with our fellow workers. When we have a problem with a co-worker, we have a problem with all the co-workers. If we have a problem with a worker who is beside us, we have a problem with all the co-workers in Taipei. If we have a problem with the co-workers in Taipei, we have a problem with all the co-workers in Taiwan. We must pay attention to this matter. It is very serious. (The Vision, Living and Work of the Lord’s Serving Ones, ch. 19)