PLAYING TO THE CROWD

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Jackson, Mississippi to attend a training class for members of the Salvation Army advisory committee.  It was a great learning experience for me.  Over the last 45 years of emergency service I have learned to love and appreciate the work that the "Army" does in emergencies and disasters.  But the Salvation Army is so much more than disaster work. 

Their "officers" are the pastors of the churches (corps) and their members are the soldiers.  Their motto goes something like this:  "To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and help the needy without discrimination".  I like that. Simple, straight forward. 

While there in Jackson I had the opportunity to sit under the teaching of several Army speakers.  One that I really appreciated was a delightful lady named (Major) Susan Brown.  Mrs. Brown came here from England over 20 years ago and still has that mesmerizing British accent that I love.  I told her, "If I could not understand a single word you said, I could still sit and listen to you speak all day". 

Several speakers told of the success of the Army.  They shared facts like:  (1) 83 cents out of every dollar that is given to the Salvation Army goes directly to help the needy. (2) For every dollar spent in advertising the Army earns $13 dollars. Those are some pretty good stats. There was a little bit of "yeah us" going on until, until Major Brown got up to give here little 10 minute devotion on Friday morning. 

It's good to be successful she said.  It is wonderful to receive the accolades of the community and our fellow workers, but, she said, "we must play for an audience of one". 

I sat there and thought about that statement.  Who do I play for?  Who do I work for?  Why do I do what I do?  I will admit that many times I play to the crowd.  If I think it will please others, if it will make me look good to them, I'll do it. As our Pastor Lyle Geist says, our lives are driven by the opinions of others. 

Sometimes I play for myself.  If it makes me feels good, if it taste good, if it looks good to me, then I'll do it. My life is driven by my wants and desires.

But Major Brown says, play for the One that matters. 

Work for one boss.  Please one master. 

If I would plan my day around His schedule, if I would say my words for His ears, if my songs were sang to Him and not to the audience, if my prayers were to Him and not words to please the crowd, if I played to the audience of THE ONE and pleased Him, then  I will arrive at the end of my journey I will hear the applause of Heaven and a single voice from the throne saying "Well done, my good and faithful servant".