Several years ago word worked its way around to me that a man I much admired and appreciated remarked that I needed to quit messing around and finish Bible College and then go on to Seminary, that I was wasting my potential. I wanted to do that, actually; but providence surely ordered otherwise, as other responsibilities made that not an option.
Reflecting on the last three decades, I suppose in terms of a religious career the man was right. (I do indeed wish that I had acquired the biblical languages and others wish I had acquired a few advanced classes in ‘tact.’) No doubt, some potential was squandered while I messed around attempting to shepherd a small assembly and seeking to become a competent Bible expositor.
Over the years, it could be that the critic wasted more potential than I. Career-wise, no. He earned a handsome living, raised a handsome family, and no doubt has a handsome annuity laid up for many years. But as far as I know he never reformed a single church; never left even one congregation with a solid biblical theology upon which to build their future. Instead of becoming a theologian-shepherd-mentor-evangelist, over time he became just another company man, loyal to denomination and traditional, tasteless, middle-of-the-road-ness. It seems that he now mostly labors to keep deep-thinking, theologically-minded preaching men out of the pastorates of churches within his circle of influence. That helps guarantee that those churches will remain as weak as ever, overly-traditional, and stuck in the same mud they have been stuck in for years—and painfully ineffective for Christ. As for potential squandered, God knows and the last day will reveal.
As for any remaining potential we might have to pour into the service of Jesus Christ, let us not waste another micron of it. Don’t waste your potential. But understand this if you miss everything else: faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and faithfulness to the truth of His Word is success. So be kind and be faithful. That will be our potential realized. –TSA
