Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

The church is so constituted that every member matters, and matters in a very vital sense. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Hundreds of years ago, a very rich man decided to leave a spiritual legacy for the people in his mountain village. He invested the majority of his fortune in a special church-building project. Nobody would see the plans or the inside of the building until it was completely finished. When the project was completed, the townspeople walked inside the magnificent structure and were amazed. It had ornate cathedral ceilings, expensive paintings, and the best furniture. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

There was only one problem. The only light was the sunlight that came through the stained-glass windows. Curious, a couple of folks asked the builder about this problem of light. He quickly pointed to some brackets on the wall and then gave each family a lamp.

He said, “Each time you attend, the place where you will be seated will be lit. When you are absent, that place will be dark. This is to remind you that whenever you skip church, part of God’s House will be dark.” *** I enjoyed this story because it illustrates a timeless principle. Church isn’t always about getting; it’s mostly about giving. When we treat church attendance lightly, we’re keeping a section of it-our section-dark. There are needy people who need our comfort who will be comfortless. There are seeking people who will leave without hearing the Word. There is a pastor or lay leader who will go home without our encouragement.

Next time you’re tempted to skip church for the football game or the family picnic, remember that your little corner will be darkened.