Open House

A few weeks ago, my wife and I had the pleasure of spending the weekend together in Washington DC. Other than dropping by to go to a concert at Constitution Hall or a play at the Warner Theatre, I really had experienced DC since the days of elementary school field trips to DC. Being born and raised in B-More we were taught at very young age to despise DC (just kidding).

During our recent trip, we were able to truly “meet” DC. We traveled on foot, on the Metro and by cab, [since a friend of the family volunteered to both drop us off at our hotel (that Friday) and to pick us up (on that Sunday) so that we could relax and avoid some of the outrageous parking fees]. Throughout the weekend, we visited some of the museums that we remembered exploring as kids, walked through the Mall, ‘refueled” (one of us did literally…and it wasn’t the writer of this piece) at Ben’s Chili Bowl and experienced some fine dining along with the nightlife that is DC,

As a gesture of appreciation, we invited the friend of the family that took us to DC to join us for dinner on Friday. As we dined, at the Utopia Bar and Grill we conversed about many different subjects. One topic that we discussed was my wife’s desire to replace our black leather furniture that is in our basement “family room” (which we hardly use). While the furniture does not show its age, it is over 12 years old and my wife said that when we replace it she wanted to go with something a little more comfortable and “cushy” like the furniture in our family room on the main floor. I agreed. I want some nice comfortable furniture just like what I already have upstairs.

After listening, the friend, who is gifted in the area of interior design, chimed in. She said something that I found intriguing. She asked about what the “function” of the downstairs family room will be. She suggested something that had a “lounge” feel or a place of totally relaxation which would address a need that is not being met by any other room in the house. She said that if we are not currently using the family-room in the basement, just replacing the furniture is not going to draw us to use that room any more than we do now. In essence she said that every room needs a function and has to meet a need or else it is essentially useless and will become an afterthought.

This conversation made me look at myself in a new light. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul talks about believers being like the Body of Christ…each one working together with a different function, but with a single purpose, which is to carry out the will of the “Head of the Body” (which is Christ). Our primary goals are to bring glory to God and to expand the kingdom.

Similarly, we are also like rooms in a house. We each have a function and when we operate outside of what we are called to do we either create chaos or we become useless because we are trying to merely duplicate the “need meeting” function that is being carried out by someone else (just like my basement “family room” which was a mere copy of my main floor family room”). What would you think if you visited someone’s house and they had a washer machine in the kitchen where an oven and range was supposed to be and a bedroom set in the dining room instead of a table and chairs?

I believe that people who have not yet decided to follow Christ are like homebuyers who in the market to buy the “house”. They are checking out the “house”, inspecting the “rooms” (the believers) and making sure that the house is going to enhance their life experience. Some buyers are sold immediately by just checking out one room…for some it’s the kitchen…other it is the master bedroom. Some people have to be “sold” on every room before they are “sold” on the “house” as a whole. Most if not all people would be completely turned off if at the “Open House” the whole house was in disarray or if what was advertised as a 25 room house was a house with 24 bathrooms and one kitchen.

The point is this. What room are you? What is your function and are you carrying it out or have you diminished your value and your “selling” points because you are trying to be a “room” that you were not designed to be? God is the ultimate interior designer. He designed you for a purpose and you play a vital role in attracting those who are in the market for a “home”. What will you do differently today to be a part of the process of making sure that the buyer “closes the deal”?

It’s Open House.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
B