While on a trip to Switzerland, an American businessman had an opportunity to watch a Swiss clockmaker carve the case of an ornate cuckoo clock. As the businessman watched, he was astounded at the slow rate of progress.

The businessman finally said, "My good man, you'll never make much money that way."

"Sir," the clockmaker replied, "I'm not making money, I'm making cuckoo clocks."

There's a lesson to be learned there. It is easy at times to forget what our real task is. What are we here for? What is your purpose on Earth? What are you making of the life God gave you?

The world is so interested in the bottom line and efficiency that they often forget the real value of workmanship and quality. Unfortunately, such a mentality often finds its way into the church. Take the subject of church growth, for instance. Some Christians will compromise almost everything they believe if they can "reach" just one more person. Some have replaced worship with entertainment, preaching with skits, and evangelism with testimonials. Why, you ask? Because they're more interested in numbers and pleasing themselves than they are obeying God and serving Him as He has instructed. They've forgotten what their real task is! Man's whole duty is to "fear God and keep His commandments" (Eccl. 12:13)!

There is no substitute for genuine New Testament Christianity. You can swell any religious group with gimmicks, but true church growth takes love, truth, hard work, and patience.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:15,16 -" But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."

It takes a great deal of time and effort to carve a quality cuckoo clock. If shortcuts are taken, the overall quality will suffer. Such is also true when it comes to building a strong church. Truth cannot be compromised and a strong love for the lost must be cultivated. Christians, keep inviting people to your assemblies, keep praying for growth, keep sharing the gospel daily and studying with those who are interested, and keep showing true love and compassion to all whom you encounter. That's how the church grows, friends! But, if all parts of the body don't do their share and work together effectively, growth will be minimal if it exists at all.

So, dear listeners, let me ask once again: What are you making of the life God gave you? Are you fulfilling your purpose and your place in the scheme of things?