Living in the Overflow

It was almost a rite of passage for Bible college freshmen and novice preachers. The King’s Men was a Sunday School class taught by Revivaltime evangelist C. M. Ward. Most of the class members were employees from church headquarters, but college students were allowed to attend and generally sat toward the rear and around the fringes of the room. That class became part of my initiation into the big world of denominational leadership.

Dr. Ward was an electrifying instructor. His idioms and illustrations were unlike anything I had previously heard. His anecdotes remain as colorful and applicable today as they were in the early 1960's. One of the pithy statements gleaned from that class was delivered with the effect of an unexpected lightning bolt, out of the blue, without context or precondition. Ward said, "When you preach, men, preach from the overflow. Don’t serve up the lees from the bottom of the barrel, but allow the Spirit to splash freshness from the overflow." While the experienced leaders nodded in agreement, I reeled with appreciation for a new insight and determined to explore its applications.

Novices savor moments like that morning with the King’s Men. I have noticed that many people tend to allow life experiences to dampen their enthusiasm, dull the edges of the excitement for their vocation and absorb a blase attitude. I think that shoulder shrugging ought to be out of bounds for God’s people. "Who cares" and "Whatever" belong to another culture! Jesus’ followers, true "King’s Men" live with an overflow.

I know, I know! I can see a chorus of silent shoulder shruggers in the background, "Well, you have lived a charmed life and . . ." To those whose heads hang heavy and eyes look downward, we have been knocked around a bit, but in the rough and tumble of life the One who said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5) has kept His Word! Life has included a few dry spells when the lees at the bottom of the barrel stunk! That’s life! But, inevitably and as promised, the rivers of living water were restored and the Spirit refreshed us.

A church publication staff requested my responses recently. The survey focused on "life challenges." The questions included, "What do you worry or complain about most?" "What makes your days difficult or unpleasant?" "What stands in the way of what you need to do?" "What are the biggest problems you constantly try to solve?" And, "What would make your life absolutely amazing?"

I really struggled in attempting to answer the queries. First of all, my life is amazing! Pat and I have experienced so much more than we ever were able to dream. When we began our journey, we could not imagine what was in store for us. C. M. Ward’s axiom, "Preach from the overflow," to the Sunday School class has turned work into worship, overwork into an overflow. What a life! We have stories to tell to our children and grandchildren. Our lives are full of miraculous anecdotes, satisfying encounters, and a future which is unimaginably perfect!