It Figures

" In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)" Acts 3:6

Parenthetical words are important. In this case, the purpose of this particular set of parentheses is to modify the word ‘believers’ and put emphasis on it, clarifying how many that actually was. Luke (the writer of Acts) gives us an approximate number of 120. I wonder what we can derive from this number? Numbers are funny. Sometimes statistics can be vitally important, at other times they don’t accurately account for what is really important. I have both minimized and maximized the numbers whether it is church attendance, or giving, or baptisms, or participants in a ministry or activity. An old friend of mine from over 30 years ago, stood up in a church business meeting after a financial presentation and reminded everyone in no uncertain terms that his daddy, Floyd Knorr Sr. always said that "liars figure and figures lie." I am not sure what his real point was other than that he didn’t totally trust the members or their source. Well, the meeting fell apart, people got real heated, and no decisions were made.

Numbers can be manipulated, compared to worse and better numbers, and used to promote spending or caution. Numbers can be exaggerated and admitted. So was 120 good? Or just the count? Was it short of hopes or expectations or exceed them. Who knows? Who can put a number of value on one heart changed? Or, one soul saved? When it comes to numbers we must be careful. How often we use numbers to influence, limit or control. Data and statistics can be helpful in determining upward and downward trends, or success and failure of measurable goals. I choose to believe 120 was a good number to start with. Sometimes numbers must decrease so they can increase. In all matters, we should be forthright about how we use numbers. Otherwise, it sets up a scenario where someone can say that "liars figure and figures lie."

Numbers are not the only measure but they cannot be denied when they are accurate.

In His Grip,
Pastor Fred

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