Sam
It has been years since we visited Sam. Come, go along. Let us do a home visit.
In case you do not remember Sam, I will fill in a few details as we travel. Sam grew up in church. He went to Sunday Bible study, as a teenager was involved as a youth leader, took Bible classes in high school and talked about being a missionary.
His graduation from high school was with honors. He was handsome, multi-talented, and a great sportsman. In all this he was particular about girls, only dating virtuous Christian girls. Off to college Sam went. He did well academically, but allowed his resolve to honor Sundays and read his Bible to weaken.
Nevertheless, he stayed in touch with one of the finest Christian girls. When they graduated from college wedding bells rang. It was another happy chapter in the book of perfect lives.
The pastor who performed the wedding held high hopes that Sam and Len would be most helpful in working with young people. In addition, Len was wonderfully musically talented. The congregation warmly received them. All seemed well.
Sam so excelled in his profession that he was quickly promoted with a tremendous increase in salary. Oddly, Sam's tithe did not increase with the increase in pay. However, a new boat did show up in Sam's yard. Third week after that new boat arrived Sam's family was not in church. On short notice another person was asked to teach Sam's class of teenagers, and a less qualified person took Len's place with the music.
On the way home after church the pastor noticed that the boat was missing from Sam's yard.
At a chance meeting at a service station on Monday, Sam smilingly explained to the pastor that he had worked six days and needed a break. "Sunday weather was perfect for boating!" Sam told the pastor and smiled his handsome smile that had helped to bring him to success.
Well, one thing led to another. Eventually Sam decided that he and his family would try a few other churches to make sure their family was being served what they wanted. The result was that Sam and Len—and now their two children—no longer served as Bible teacher or in the music. When they did attend church, it was all smiles and warm and friendly. However, they were building a wall, letting others know not to "push" them or to "invade" their private lives. A phone call or email to them might or might not be returned.
Oddly, if anyone asked them about their spiritual lives, Sam and Len could easily tell their boating and golfing friends, "We are Christians." Any further conversation about their commitment was discussed in general, easily avoiding commitment. Tithing had stopped long ago—long before they had bought a new and bigger house, sports car, and Len had started to buy expensive jewelry. A few social drinks had now eventuated into events in their home with alcohol generously supplied by Sam and Len.
But you must know that when Len was in an accident and almost died, Sam's mother called and said Sam wanted the pastor to visit Len in the hospital and pray for her. And when the youngest child was afflicted by a rare virus, Sam came to church three weeks straight, sat with the pastor long hours in the hospital, talked about how he needed to renew his love for the Lord, and sounded repentant.
The child got well. Two more Sundays of church and Sam and Len were gone. Oddly, you must understand, Len often cried when talking with her mom or old girlfriends. She wanted her children to be in church. She missed being in church music ministry. She longed for the times of Christian fellowship. What no one knew was that Len was daily having a strong drink of whiskey while Sam was gone. It helped her pain of guilt.
When Sam noticed an empty bottle in the trash can he immediately took Len to a private clinic. Private is the word. He did not turn to the pastor and God. He could afford to pay for the help they needed.
Well, things moved along during the years. Sam became CEO. Made millions of dollars. Every Christmas he gave a generous check of $500 to the church of his childhood. He would attend church on the Sunday of the gift and make sure that everyone knew about his generosity.
Of course, Sam and Len had now chosen a church fitting their lifestyle. There were other women in their new church that had Len's problem. In fact, their new church offered a recovery group for women with Len's problem. That the program was not Bible-based and no one had ever recovered did not matter. The women could talk about their problems and sympathize with each other.
Well, we have almost arrived at Sam and Len's fabulous mansion on a lake. Next week we will visit with Sam and Len and their teenage children.
For relevance to your life and love for Jesus it would be helpful to read I Samuel 8 and forward. Saul was an humble servant of the Lord chosen for great things. Success in worldly things polluted Saul's heart. You read the story and ask yourself about your own spiritual walk.
See you next week. (Part 2 and Part 3)
Pastor Bare
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Proverbs 53:1).