Most of you know that in addition to my work with Good News I am also the pastor of Adult Discipleship at The Woodlands United Methodist Church thirty miles north of Houston, Texas. Shortly after receiving Christ as my Savior in high school, God placed two passions within my heart. One was to preach the Gospel and invite people into a saving relationship with Jesus. The other was to impact the United Methodist Church so that it became more faithful to the Scriptures. Now, more than 30 years later, I am amazed and grateful how God has fulfilled those two desires in my life.
One of the joys of serving a local church is being invited into some of the most important moments in the lives of people – their greatest joys and also their deepest sorrows.
Sitting down with a family to plan the funeral of a loved one is never easy. After discussing the service itself, I always ask the family to tell me what was best about their loved one. What did they admire most? What do they want me to make sure people know about the one they loved?
Nearly two hundred funerals later, no one has ever responded to that question by saying, “Tell people that my dad made lots of money.” Not once has anyone said, “Be sure that people know my sister wore the finest of clothes.” I’ve never been told to mention where someone has traveled, how large his or her home was, or even how high he or she climbed on the corporate ladder. Not when I have asked, “What was best about your loved one? What’s most important for people to know?”
Invariably when asked that question, people talk about their loved one’s character and about the sacrifices he or she made.
“Preacher, be sure and tell people that my mother was the most generous person I ever knew. Tell how she went without anything new for years just so we could go to school dressed like the other kids.”
“Rob, my father was fired once because he refused to put his name on a report when he knew the figures were wrong. His boss told him that if he wouldn’t sign off on the report it would cost the company money and it would cost him his job. Tell people that my dad said they could have his job – he would keep his integrity.”
“Pastor, be sure and say that when my dad left us, mom worked two jobs so we could have food on the table and later go to college. I never once heard her complain. I know what love is like because I know what my mother was like.”
“Tell folks how my dad passed up a promotion – his career never recovered – because it meant he would have to travel and be gone during the week. It was when my brother and I were teenagers and we were getting into all kinds of trouble. And he decided we were more important to him than his promotion. Thank God he did. I hate to think where we would be if he hadn’t been there for us.”
See, people know. In their heart of hearts, they know that what makes a life truly good is not what you get but what you give. It’s not what others do for you; it’s what you do for others. Deep down people know that we experience the fullness of life when we serve, when we sacrifice, when we pay a price to live out our beliefs and put God and others first.
The song says “the best things in life are free,” and I think I understand what it means. But I respectfully disagree. The best things in life aren’t free and they aren’t cheap. Character. Integrity. Faithfulness. Love. The best things in life are always costly. They require sacrifice and self-denial. But in our hearts we know the truth – they’re worth the price.
Renfroe
Rob Renfroe has been the President and Publisher of Good News since 2009. He has been involved in United Methodist renewal and reform for many years, having served as the President of the Board of Directors of The Confessing Movement before taking the leadership role at Good News. Rob is also the pastor of adult discipleship at The Woodlands United Methodist Church in The Woodlands, Texas.