Being Extra
In the world’s modern vernacular or slang, “being extra” is often thought of in a negative way. It says that a person is behaving in a dramatic or excessive way for attention. It is where we get the phrases, “She is a Karen” or “Shut up Carl.” It can show in a person’s speech, behavior, or appearance. Sometimes actions are done to make a statement, promote an idea, or in the case of television ads, “But wait there’s more” look to separate you from your money.
Then there is the good extra. Like extra blueberries in our pancakes which are yummy to the tummy. Extra money in our paychecks from an unexpected bonus. Or how about a BOGO offer at your favorite sporting goods store? These are all received, there is also extra that can be given. Being sincerely kind to that ornery and austere boss of yours adds an extra heap of fiery coal to his head. Offering extra grace to a difficult co-worker, customer, or in-law can keep the peace in relationships.
In revealing Himself as EL SHADDAI, God’s character is expressed as not just enough, but more than enough. God is infinitely extra! In the Old Testament we see examples of the LORD being extra in the lives of Abraham, Jacob, and Solomon. And there are many prophecies, some fulfilled, some to come, that proclaim His exceeding goodness toward His children. One of these is found in Amos. It describes a time of abundance of crops that the people will not be able to harvest them all. (Amos 9:13)
As Christians, we stand for the Kingdom of God, and I believe we should be extravagantly extra. Extra in love (John 13:34, 1 John 4:7-8, 1 Cor. 16:14) over the top in appearance (Col. 3:12, 4:5-6 Eph. 6:13-17), and royally in behavior as ambassadors and witnesses for the King of kings, the Alpha and Omega, the One before whom every knee will bend. Starting with the beginning of the Church in the book of Acts, throughout the epistles I see words like “Exceedingly,” “Abundantly” and “Increasingly” concerning our walk or life with our Lord Jesus. This convinces me that our lives are to be anything but ordinary. We are to be extra!
1 Thessalonians 4:1 NIV
As for other matters, brothers, and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
This idea of being extra does not sit well with some Christians. A few are doing the best they can to just keep their C&E (Christmas and Easter) status. Many are too busy with making a living and do their best to check the box on Sundays. Others view anything more than attendance as the work of ministry that is to be left to men in black suits and white collars or colorful embroidered robes. I have even heard statements like, “That’s what we pay our little preacher for.” This is disrespectful to the Lord who gave us the gift of a Pastor, and nothing more than an excuse of convenience to avoid what the Lord has instructed and equipped them to do. Obviously, they have not really read and understood what Ephesians, the fourth chapter teaches us.
Ephesians 4:11,12 NLT
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Why is this? Shouldn’t it be that every Christian would want to be extraordinarily used by God? Could it be that the answer is given to us both in the gospels and the epistles? In the “Parable of The Sower” found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus uses the image of a farmer sowing seed. In His illustration we can see that the soil, the hearts of those that hear, produces different results. So how we hear His commandment to be a witness (Acts 1:8), make disciples of new believers (Matt. 28:19,20), affects the building of His Kingdom. How we receive His instructions to serve (Gal. 5:13, Eph. 6:7) and give to the local church and one another (2 Cor. 8:12, 9:1-15, Acts 4:32-35) shows our care and love for His Body.
Moving from ordinary to EXTRAordinary requires total dedication, not merely a half-hearted commitment. It is an everyday that ends in Y, not just a Sunday thing. When Jesus said that “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) He is telling me that after counting the cost, I am to focus solely on Him, letting go of everything that has been my security. It is why He taught about the “Thorny heart” in the Sower parable.
The epistles give us two examples of this with John Mark, and Demas. Both these men were with the Apostle Paul, and it is safe to say that they were extra at some point. I don’t think anyone that was with Paul could be anything less. But at some point, both deserted him, both looked back. Not sure what the outcome was for Demas, but John Mark, he went back to the ordinary for a time, but he repented, he returned to be extra with Barnabas and later with both the Apostles Peter and Paul. He became so extra that the Holy Spirit used him to pen one of the four gospels.
The Lord is preparing something new, something different for His Church. The same old, same old was never in His plans, but in men’s thinking and desires. Since that day in the upper room in Jerusalem, throughout the Church age, God has been moving forward. He has moved with those that have their hearts wholly toward Him and His purposes. As the day approaches when He will reap the end-time harvest and rapture the Church from the earth, He wants us to be exceedingly, increasingly, abundantly EXTRA!