There was an elderly man who lived in a valley surrounded by towering mountain peaks. One peak in particular attracted the attention of avid, serious-minded mountain climbers because of its sheer, treacherous rock cliffs, and the challenge of attempting to climb such a daunting and dangerous mountain. There were many who would climb some of the other cliffs surrounding this valley, but only the very best – those who were experts at mountain climbing – and the very bravest – those with the courage to risk all the dangers of such a climb – would ever consider such an arduous, dangerous, climb.

One morning, as the old gentleman took his Bible, his cup of coffee, and his morning newspaper out onto the large, wrap-around porch of his mountain home, his attention came to focus on a convoy of five large SUV’s making their way into the valley bottom. He knew from past experiences that this is where those preparing to make a climb would usually park their vehicles. As they found a clearing large enough for them to begin unloading their climbing gear, he knew that he would not be able to see clearly enough without assistance, so he quickly made his way back into the house to get his binoculars and, if the need arose for something more powerful, his telescope. He didn’t want to miss even a moment of the action.

He had never seen so much climbing gear being taken out of those vehicles! It took a couple of hours just to unload. Then, the tedious task of preparing everything for their climb began. Ropes, hooks, rappelling gear, sleeping bags, food, water, first aid supplies, tents were carefully inspected and then placed into their backpacks. As the morning ended and the afternoon hours began it became obvious that this would be the most dangerous climb ever. It took them the entire day to just get ready for the climb. He realized that he would need plenty of rest to keep up, so as soon as darkness covered the valley he went to bed for a good night’s rest. He wanted to be refreshed for the activities of tomorrow.

With coffee and Bible, binoculars and telescope in hand, he made his way to the porch to watch today’s movements. The climbing group was already moving toward the base of the cliff – the most dangerous of all! He had never seen anyone make this climb successfully. It caused him to be even more intent to watch every move.

And he watched. And watched. And watched. Five straight days of watching. It was such an arduous, dangerous climb that they were taking every precaution. Two of the five days it seemed they were making almost no progress at all due to the extreme caution they had to take in the placing of their rappelling hooks. And each evening they had to find a ledge wide enough to safely set up their single-person tents.

But finally, about mid-afternoon on the fifth day, they made it to the top. It had been a most dangerous climb, but they were now of the very few who could share they had made it.

The old gentleman was so excited! He quickly made his way into the house, grabbed his truck keys, and took off toward town. He was going to tell everyone the news! He went straight to the old general store where he and his friends would meet almost every day for a coke and conversation. He had not even made it to the table where his colleagues had gathered before he began shouting, “We made it, we made it. All the way to the top, we made it!”

They sat there incredulous – wondering what in the world their old friend was talking about. When they finally got him to settle down, catch his breath, and gather his thoughts, they asked, “Made what, exactly?” He then began to recount the activities of the past few days: how they had painstakingly made their way, day after day, until they reached the top.

He finally finished telling his tale. When he stopped talking long enough for one of his friends to speak, the friend asked a simple, one word question: “We?” Then all of the old gentlemen there on that day began to chuckle, then their chuckles turned to laughter, and their laughter finally evolved into loud, boisterous guffawing, with two of them almost going into convulsions. When they were able to quit laughing, catch their breath, and speak, one asked again, “We? What did you do? You sat on your porch, in your nice, comfortable reading chair, watching. You did nothing! You really don’t qualify to use the word “we”, do you?

The old gentleman hung his head. His excitement quickly abated, and he was left in a state of embarrassment. They were right – he had done nothing – but watch. Watch while others did all the work; while others climbed the cliff; while others took all the dangers in hand; while others put themselves in grave danger just to be there; while others did everything, and he did – well, nothing, he did nothing.

Could we make a personal, spiritual application of this story? Perhaps you have heard someone in a church family, while talking about things going on in the church use the inclusive “We” in the description. “We did this” and “we did that”, when in reality they did nothing. They sat while others did everything.

I hope that this does not describe anyone who might read this story, but if it does, and you are the person, then why not make a change. Get involved. Be a part. Use your talents and your spiritual gifts by being a part of what God is doing. Don’t sit by as a spectator, but be a participant in the action.

The local church is like a football game; twenty-two people on the field, badly in need of rest, and forty thousand in the stands, badly in need of exercise.

Someone once described the local church as a football game; twenty-two people on the field, badly in need of rest, and forty thousand in the stands, badly in need of exercise. Where are you? And what do you need to do about it?