A Place Where People Care

A Place Where People Care 

When Harry Truman was thrust into the presidency at the
death of FDR, Sam Rayburn gave him some fatherly
advice. "From here on out, you're going to have lots of
people around you. They'll try to put a wall around you
and cut you off from any ideas but theirs. They'll tell
you what a great man you are, Harry. But you and I both
know you ain't."

Later on, when Sam Rayburn discovered that he was quite
ill, he announced to the House of Representatives he
was going home for medical tests. Some wondered why he
didn't stay in Washington where there were excellent
medical facilities. He supplied the answer when he told
Congressman Jim Wright, "Bonham [Texas] is a place
where people know it when you're sick, and where they
care when you die."

I like that last statement because I think it's true of
the church. We live in a world where people often don't
care what happens to others around them. Everyone is
too interested in getting what they want to even notice
what is going on in the lives of others. But the church
is a place where people "rejoice with those who
rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15).
It's a place "where people know it when you're sick,
and where they care when you die."

God knew that we need a place like that--a group of
people who share the same commitment to God that we
have, a place where we will be loved unconditionally, a
place where we can find shoulders to lean on and arms
to comfort us in times of trial.

I hope that each and every one of you have a church
family that serves that purpose in your life.

"We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of
faith. The one who made the promise is faithful. We
must also consider how to encourage each other to show
love and to do good things. We should not stop
gathering together with other believers, as some of you
are doing. Instead, we must continue to encourage each
other even more as we see the day of the Lord coming"
(Hebrews 10:23-25, God's Word).

  -- Alan Smith, Helen Street Church of Christ,
Fayetteville, North Carolina