Articles
Do You Have Imaginary Friends?
Did you ever have an imaginary friend? I don’t remember ever having one, but I have
come across children who did. The problems with imaginary friends are that no one else can see
or hear them. Imaginary friends never seem to be around when the toys need to be picked up or
chores need to be done. Imaginary friends also seem to do things that they are not supposed to do
and are never around to share in the blame and punishment. Imaginary friends aren’t good
friends at all when you get right down to it.
Most of us would say we don’t have imaginary friends. However, when you start
listening to some of the things we say and see the things we do, you might begin to question that.
In First Aid training one of the first things they taught us was to pick an individual and make
them responsible for calling 911. In most cases when there is a group, no one will call 911
because everyone thinks someone else will take care of it.
In the church we often hear people make statements like “Someone else will do it” or
even “The church will take care of that.” This is when it starts to sound like we have an
imaginary friend. Who is “someone”? Who is the “church”? If we see a job that needs done, we
should be willing to do what we can. We should be looking for jobs that we can do and help with
all the time. We often rely on others or the preacher to do the work of the church.
But who does the Bible say is to do the work? “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so
that the body of Christ may be built up…” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Imagine how much work for the
Lord could be done if each of us was equipped and willing to do what God has called us to do. A
preacher is only one man and can only do the work of one. How much more work could 100
members do if each of us did our part? ~Brad Tolbert
