Ruined by a Towel Rack
I’ve been reading a book recently by brother Charles B. Hodge, Jr. entitled All Christians are Leaders. It might be possible for me to fill another book with some of the insights I’ve gained from that experience, but I will limit myself to one story he told in his book.
Brother Hodge wrote that, for years, he was known as the “man with a towel.” When he was preaching full-time, white towels were purchased and the word “servant” was stamped on them. These towels were given to men when they became deacons. There were also “Towel Sundays,” at which time towels were presented to people who “served in the shadows.” These people had been selected by an anonymous committee.
It seems that the thought was that these towels were a way to let people know that their service to the Lord and to the congregation was not going unnoticed. It seems to have been an attempt to give “…honor to whom honor is owed” (Romans 13:7, ESV).
Apparently, all was going well until a sister in the congregation who had received one of those towels asked a carpenter to make a towel rack so that she could display her towel in her house. I will let brother Hodge explain the effect of this in his own words:
Others asked what they needed to do to get one. Some thought they should have been given one; their attitude was not good. Others thought some recipients had not qualified. A ‘civil war’ was brewing. (p. 71)
Because of this, the entire program was finally discontinued. What apparently began as a thoughtful and sincere effort to recognize true service began to look more like a desire for recognition. Instead of being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3), people appeared to look more like “…Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first…” (3 John 9).
Does any of that sound somewhat familiar? Do you remember the Lord’s severe denunciation of some religious people whose motivation was the recognition and accolades of people? Do you also remember the premium that He places on humility?
I have preached for three different congregations of God’s people and now serve as an elder in one of them. In all three of those places, I’ve had the privilege of knowing people who were, in every way, “people of the towel.” They serve(d) quietly, faithfully, humbly, and far from the limelight. In fact, there was/is no desire for the limelight. Instead of desiring recognition, these people are embarrassed by it. Instead of wanting everybody to know how they serve, these people would prefer that nobody would know.
I am, in no way, trying to set myself up as the judge of people, their motivations, or their efforts. What I am about to type is only an expression of my own feelings. If the choice is between a towel rack in a house and hearing “well done” from Jesus, it would be wise to choose the latter — every time.
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn