Dumb as a Rock!
“…for I say to you God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” –Luke 3:8
When I went on my first mission trip in 1993 we performed a skit called, “Dumb as a Rock”. The skit involved 2 people, and they were spending the day on one of their grandfather’s farm. They walked around the farm, and as they saw things the grandson pointed out that he could be just like that object. They came to a tree, and the boy said I can be a tree. He held out his arms to symbolize branches, and he moved his fingers to show leaves; then he pointed to his midsection to symbolize a trunk, and finally he swayed back and forth to show that he was being blown around by the wind. His counterpart looked at him like he was an idiot, and said, “You’re not a tree; you’re just dumb as a rock.”
My favorite scene was when the boys came to the chicken coup. The grandson stuck his hands under his arms to represent wings, and started strutting like a chicken; and cackling. The other boy looked at him like he was an idiot, and gave the same response as before, “You’re not a chicken, you’re just dumb as a rock.”
In the final scene the “city” boy took his friend to church with him. They got in the church, and sat down in the back pew. The choir director came forward, and they began singing the opening hymn. The two boys in the back stood up, and the visiting boy began singing loudly with the choir director. The “city” boy told him to be quiet, and just mouth the words. A little while later the offering plate was passed, and the visitor reached for his wallet; but the “city” boy told him to just pass the plate along because they don’t need his money. Finally, at the end of the service as they stood for the invitation the visitor started to go down front. The churchgoing “city” boy grabbed his arm, and asked what he was doing. The visitor said, “That man told me if I came down there he would tell me more about Jesus.” The churchgoer said, “No let’s just get out of here.” The visitor looked at him and said, “You may look like a Christian, and you may talk like a Christian; but you’re not a Christian. You’re just dumb as a rock.”
John the Baptist echoed those words to the Pharisees as they gathered around in their religious garb. He told them that they might rule the temple, and they might have Abraham as their father; but they were as far from God as anyone can get. This reminds me a lot of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans chapter 2 when he condemned the Jews for teaching others to obey the Law of God, yet they were guilty of breaking the Law that they taught. He said religion is not only in the mind, but it is also in the actions. Listen to the words of Paul, “But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that which is of the heart by the Spirit not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.” (Romans 2:29)
Do you go to church, or pray just so others can see you; and say what a good guy you are. If you do service for God so that others will praise you, then Jesus said that you have all the reward that you are going to get! (Matthew 6:5)
Father, I ask that You would always keep my service about You, so that I can receive Your reward which no man can fathom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The image above can be found at:
http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/photographs700/west-rocks.jpg
Yes, You Can Ministry 
