May 17, 2018 | For The Edification Of All

1 Corinthians 14:26 calls Christians to a life of worship where each one is ready to serve and share. When we come together, each is ready to sacrifice for the edification of all.

I was recently reminded of an excellent example – Don Tabb. As a young partner to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Don was a dynamo of energy. He gave himself tirelessly so the gospel might go forth. As pastor and church planter, Don was vested in the lives of God’s people. He mentored scores of young men, many of whom went on to become brilliant ministers themselves. Don gave whatever was needed for each person in each moment.

I became friends with Don at the Amsterdam 2000 conference, where I was chaplain responsible for 12,000 participants from 210 countries. There were wonderful pastors serving with me, but Don could tell we were stretched thin. Though he was there to teach a seminar, Don pulled me aside and said, “What do you need? Put me anywhere, no matter the hour.” Trusting his sincere zeal and gifting, I asked Don to solve a big problem. One of our task groups had to work very late – from about 11pm to 4 am – to prepare for the next day’s translation duties. Their group was stuck in a hot auditorium with limited interaction. Don, sizing up the situation, took over. He stopped the work, called all 40 of them together, and led a sharing service in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 14:26. Afterwards, they returned to work with new hearts. Productivity shot up and continued for the next two weeks as Don joined them every night at midnight.

Even in his recent death in a boating accident, Don was directing help to his comrade at the moment he was taken under. As he entered eternity with his Savior, Don Tabb was busy edifying, saving, building up the members of God’s church. May you and I go and do the same.