Sold Out (May 31)

A week or two ago, I was riding my bike along a trail, and seeing some vending machines, decided to stop for a drink. I had enough water to finish the ride, but it was getting warm and I thought I cold use some cold Gatorade or something. I hadn't noticed these vending machines before, but there they were, advertising their goods. I walked to the first one and noted that the drinks were $1.50. I dropped two dollars into the machine and they came straight out the coin return. Apparently the machine did not accept dollars. I dropped the dollars into the second machine and it took them, but then the display read, “Sold Out” when I pushed a selection button. I walked back to my bike and continued down the trail with no refreshment and short two dollars. It got me thinking about a few things. How many here today are sold out? How many times have I been sold out?

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Here are some other translations for the Greek words that were used for “comfort” and “edify”.

Comfort – call near, invite, comfort, give exhortation, pray

Edify – to be a house builder, construct, confirm, build up, embolden

We are called many times in the scripture to encourage one another. We are supposed to build each other up, help each other out, pray for each other, be there for each other, console each other, give comfort, share the word of God, and many other things to help each other out in life, both naturally and spiritually. You see, as Christians, we must care about each other. That's how the church works. It's one body. Its members look out for one another and share God's heart. Listen to this, let's read on:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-17

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing.

You see, when I saw that vending machine, it was advertising something. It was offering products for sale. It was offering refreshment. But when I approached it, it had nothing to give. Now, you may remember another lesson that I shared about false advertising, where I had a box of something that I bought at the store and when I opened the box, it contained something else. I had related that to people that call themselves a Christian but are really something else inside. That's not really where I'm going with this lesson. You see, the vending machine advertised refreshing drinks. It really was a vending machine and really did sell the drinks that were advertised. Unfortunately, it was just empty. I could have come by the week before and there would have been drinks. I could go tomorrow and there would be drinks. But on that one day, there was nothing. The supply was used up. It needed to be restocked.

Now let's consider ourselves and the Holy Spirit. We just read some verses about encouraging each other and sharing the love of God with each other (whether comfort or exhortation). But if we don't spend our own time with God and allow Him to fill us with His Spirit and His Love, we won't have anything to give. If I come to you in need of encouragement, are you going to have anything to give? If you come to me needing to hear a call to come closer to God, am I going to have anything to give? Or will we be sold out?

I fear that all too often, it is hit or miss with me and with so many in the church. Maybe you will come to me today and I will comfort you and pray for you. Perhaps two weeks ago I had nothing to give. Well, that might seem perfectly fine to the person that received encouragement. But to the person that got nothing it will seem completely worthless. You see, when I approached that vending machine on my bike ride, I needed refreshment. I got nothing. That may have been the first time in five years that the machine was empty, but that didn't matter to me. What mattered on that day was that it was sold out. Christianity and serving God (and therefore also one another) is an every day thing. Are you sold out today? If I come to you tomorrow, will you have God's heart to share with me? I believe that if you are constantly seeking the Lord and being filled with His Spirit and His Love that you will always have that same Spirit and Love flowing from you to others. It won't matter what day it is, whether it's a good week or a bad week, or what time of day or night, when a friend comes in need of refreshment, you will always have an appropriate word from God's heart and a commitment to prayer. That's the kind of Christian I want to be. That's the kind of friend I want to be. If I were a vending machine, that's the way I would want to be: always offering much-needed refreshment—never sold out.