After spending many years as a journalist for the San Francisco Examiner, Arthur Brisbane was offered six months of paid vacation time by his boss, William Randolph Hearst. Mr. Brisbane refused to accept the offer and gave two reasons. He said, “If I quit writing my newspaper column for six months, it might affect the circulation of the newspaper. The second reason is that it might not affect the circulation of the newspaper.”

Arthur’s answer was profound. Keep his answer in mind while we ask ourselves, “If I dropped out of sight for six months and did absolutely nothing for the Lord or the church, would I be missed?” Would the Lord’s work suffer, or would there be no difference whatsoever? If I stopped showing up, what wouldn’t be accomplished?

As members of the Lord’s church, we each have a responsibility in doing the Lord’s work and building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16; I Corinthians 14:26; II Corinthians 12:19; Ephesians 4:12). We cannot hire someone else to fulfill our responsibility to the Lord (Galatians 6:4-5; Romans 2:6; I Corinthians 3:8). We are individually accountable to God for what we do with the time He has blessed us with. Paul said, as he wrote to the Ephesians, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Let’s resolve that we will become more involved in the Lord’s work, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). God has so richly blessed us with time, talent, vision, and financial means. Let’s be willing to put these gifts to work for the Lord and His cause, “while it is yet day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4).