The Parable of the Candles

One night during a blackout I fumbled to the closet where we keep the candles for nights like this … I lit four of them. I was turning to leave with one of the large candles in my hand when I heard it say: “Now, hold it right there.”
I lifted up the candle to take a closer look when it said. “Don’t take me out of here! Don’t take me out of this room.”
“What do you mean?” I said. “I have to take you out. You’re a candle. Your job is to give light and it’s dark out there. You’re light is needed.”
“But you can’t take me out. I’m not ready,” the candle explained with a pleading voice. “I need more preparation.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “More preparation?”
“Yes” came the reply. “I’ve decided I need to research this job of light-giving so I won’t go out and make a bunch of mistakes. You’d be surprised how distorted the glow of an untrained candle can be…”
Well, I thought to myself. You’re not the only candle on the shelf. I’ll blow you out and take the others!
But right then I heard 3 other voices, “We aren’t going either!”
I turned to the other candles, “But you’re candles, your job is to light dark places!”
“Well, that may be what you think,” said the first one, “But I’m busy … I’m meditating on the importance of light. It’s really en-lightening.”
Then a short, fat, purple candle spoke up. “I’m waiting to get my life together, I’m not stable enough.”
Then the last candle spoke up. “I’d like to help” it explained, “but lighting the darkness isn’t my gift … I’m a singer. I’ll sing to the other candles to encourage them to burn more brightly.”
It began a rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” Soon the other three joined in, filling the closet with singing.
I took a step back and considered the absurdity of it all. Four perfectly usable candles singing to each other about light but refusing to come out of the closet and provide light.

Here is a question for you–what did God create His church for? When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone? This world is full of darkness, with many people stumbling around trying to find their way. You can be a light for them. It can happen with something as simple sharing your faith, a glow tract, an outreach bag, a just a smile across the room, or a quick hello to a forgotten friend. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.” Matthew 5:14-16

– Author unknown