A Tale Of Two Brothers

Once upon a time in the land of Make Believe there lived Mom and Pop Totally-Committed, who with their two sons, Brother A and Brother B, were a godly folk. The boys were raised with the same tender loving care, ever and always trying with all their might to follow the precious example set before them.

They were inseparable and the elder brother never seemed to mind in the least that his sibling was close on his heels, following his every move. It was Brother A’s goal that Brother B catch the vision of their parents and let the pattern of consecration and devotion continue. His mentoring paid off, and Brother B saw and experienced first hand the benefits of pursuing the will of God.

This learning came as soon as they were old enough to know anything, and their life mirrored that of so many others. For example, when asked if he were a particular denomination, one man said, “Yes…and prenatal,” meaning that living for God is all he had ever known.

It was like that with the two boys, almost as if their mother taught Sunday School in the morning, went to the hospital to deliver in the afternoon, and two weeks later was back in church, presenting her child to the Lord.

Brother A and Brother B were what is fondly and commonly known as ‘church drug babies’…their parents drug ’em to Sunday School, morning AND evening services, Bible study…you name it. And let us not forget that every revivalist who came down the Pike stopped by their church, not for a three day meeting, but for two and three week REVIVALS!

Their love for the Lord never ceased but only matured, as did the boys. Brother A and Brother B did not leave the faith deposited in them from birth. They grew up and married, and with families of their own, the brothers endeavored to instill the same principles in their children.

It seems like a nice “and they lived happily ever after” ending to the fairy tale, and it would be but for one small wrinkle...

While Brother B loved the Lord with all his heart, always did every thing that was required, and his faithfulness to heavenly things never wavered, he never experienced the privilege of service…only the duty.

He never learned that any thing done for Kingdom sake is a ‘get to’ moment rather than a ‘have to’ one.

Brother A caught this understanding early and it remained with him all the days of his life. His thoughts always were, “Thank you, Lord, that I get to teach today…what a privilege that I get to be in the House of God one more time…I am so glad I get to sing in the choir today…how blessed I am that I get to return unto the Lord a tithe…” His service went up before the Lord as a sweet smelling savor of sacrifice from the heart.

For Brother B, it was quite different…

"I am a Christian, so there are certain things I do and don’t do…certain places I go and don’t go. I attend church services every time the doors are open. I have to pay my tithes and give an offering. I have to teach Sunday School and sing in the choir. My parents did this, and I must, too…"

He never seemed to grasp the blessed heritage Mom and Pop gave him, full of opportunities for service, because of the sometimes overwhelming sense of obligation. "This is what I am supposed to do...it is what I have to do!"

This was not a sudden change in attitude, but was always there. On reflection, we see that Brother A was awakened on Sunday mornings as a child with joy… “I wonder what the lesson will be about today...”

In contrast, Brother B moaned, “Do I have to go to church today?”

Sadly, that have to thinking never left…

This difference in mindset did not mean Brother A was more saved and sanctified than Brother B, or that it would necessarily keep his brother from making it in. It just meant that for Brother A, living for God was not a chore but second nature…as the songwriter said, “Like breathing out and breathing in.”

It could be so because he decided long ago to separate himself unto the Lord rather than from the world, thus it was never a hardship. He served with gladness and not out of duty, grateful for the opportunity to work and live in the Kingdom.

The ‘have to’ mentality is not a very prosperous one…it makes the soul lean and wanting. How much easier life is and what joy is to be had by simply turning our thoughts to the privilege rather than the duty.

Perhaps the next time we hear someone say, “I have to sing,” or the next time we think, “Oh, I better get up ’cause I have to go to church,” we will remember the tale of the two brothers, and thank God for the ‘get to’…