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Once upon a time there were two chefs. They were equally talented and of equal intelligence. Though they each had very specific objectives and motives, they nonetheless started off business-wise from very similar circumstances. Today’s devotional expands the parable of the two chefs and prompts the reader to examine his spiritual diet and how it is affecting him as far as his spiritual health is concerned.

Chef Bobby began his business career soon after college and launched a small restaurant business on the outskirts of his hometown. His restaurant did extremely well in the early stages and even made it necessary for him to hire additional help beyond what he had expected within 6 months of opening.

Chef Frank also opened his own business after a short stay with a hotel chain in his local community. Like his counterpart, Chef Bobby witnessed his efforts begin to pay off in the early going. Many of his customers seemed to appreciate Chef Frank’s abilities and recommended his place to their friends. Chef Frank soon found it necessary to add on additional dining space as word of his tasty wares continued to drive customers to his door.

Though Bobby and Frank were alike in many ways, they were also dissimilar in some fundamental ways. Bobby’s objectives and his motives were very much centered on providing the healthiest of foods to his clientele. Whereas Frank’s objectives and motives were more pragmatic, he supplied his customers with foods that pleased their palates first and foremost and that with little regard for their nutritional effects. Both Bobby and Frank enjoyed their work and poured their body and soul into making their respective ventures successful.

As time went on, Frank’s tasty morsels began to receive recognition beyond the borders of his own community and gained recognition in cities that were far, far away. Bobby did OK, but there was little fanfare that accompanied his work and the nutritional servings which he insisted on setting before his customers, Though Bobby’s business started with a great deal of encouragement, the novelty of it soon wore off and Bobby found himself starved for customers. Within a couple of years, Bobby found it necessary to sell his business and begin supplementing his income through other means.

Now here is the question: Which of the two chefs was most successful? Some might quickly respond that Frank was the more successful of the two, citing the popularity of his culinary creations and the expanding marketplace in which his dishes found acceptance. However, the rest of the story might give pause to such reasoning. Many of Chef Frank’s customers became obese and were mal-nourished due to his failure to consider the effects of his foods on their bodies. Frank’s objectives had been to satisfy his customers’ palates with little regard for their needs. Bobby, on the other hand, had conscientiously insisted that there was no substitute for a balanced diet and had refused to compromise that principle, even if it meant the demise of his business. Now think again; which of the two chefs was most successful. The answer depends entirely on how one defines success doesn't it!

Now transfer the principles of the parable to the practice of modern-day churches. Some have little regard for the spiritual health of their members and focus only on what pleases the masses. Their numbers burgeon as word of their “felt needs” services reach the itching ears of the un-churched. Other churches refuse to compromise the truth regardless of the reaction of those who might darken their doors. One church grows exponentially while the other remains small and struggles just to stay afloat. Which of the two churches is most successful? It all depends on how one defines success doesn't it!

Questions:

1. Who defines success for a church? Is it the reaction of the people within the church, or is it God?

2. Is it possible that the people might see themselves as highly successful while God appraises it as harmful and without spiritual merit (consider our Lord’s reaction to some of the seven churches of Asia in Revelation, chapters 1-3)?

3. What principles should never be compromised in a church, even for the sake of growth?

4. Who should decide the basics of the spiritual diet that should be fed to people? What if that is not what they want?

"Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life" from Tom Kelley

The Curse is Gone