You Never Asked Me

When Henry Ford purchased a large insurance policy for himself, the Detroit newspapers printed the fact since the amount was so large and Mr. Ford was so prominent.  One of the articles was read by an old friend of Mr. Ford’s who was in the insurance business.  Completely surprised by the purchase since he had not heard that Mr. Ford was in the market for insurance, the friend went to see him and asked if the story were true.  When Mr. Ford replied that it was, the friend asked him why the policy was not purchased from him since he was a personal friend and had been for many years.  Mr. Ford’s reply was, ‘You never asked me.”
Could it be that someone we have known for years does not attend our church, or any church, because we have never asked him?  Will there be neighbors and friends of ours who will pass through this life never knowing the assurance of forgiveness through Jesus Christ because no one ever brought the subject up?  I have known people who seemed content with their worldly lifestyle.  Their demeanor suggested to me that they weren’t interested at all in pursuing spiritual things.  So I neglected to share my faith with them, only to discover later that they had become Christians and were actively growing in the Lord in another congregation.  In fact, I never cease to be amazed at the “kind” of people who eventually enter the Body of Christ on the basis of a seed faithfully planted by a concerned disciple.  The reason?  The gospel is powerful, regardless of how it happens to be presented.
When Jesus suggested to his disciples that the fields were “’white unto harvest” I think He was chiding them for their defeatist attitude that “no one is really interested in spiritual things anymore.”  I think that what we will really find is that there is far more willingness to hear among those who know Him not than there is willingness to tell among those who know Him.
Don’t ever by afraid to speak up about what Christ means to you, has done for you and can do for others.  Despite your fears, you may be surprised at what the Lord will do through such encounters.

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