I have heard some say (and have, myself, said), "Numbers don't mean anything. The size of the congregation just doesn't matter." Yet, I believe that Abraham appreciated the part of God's promise that said that his descendants would be "as the sands of the sea" I do not believe that the promise would have seemed half so exciting if the Lord had said the number would have been fifty or so. And, again, I read in the book of Revelation that the number around the throne of the Lamb is 10,000 X 10,000 and thousands and thousands." I do believe that it would have lost some of the effect if it had said "scores and scores."
Do numbers matter? I believe that every preacher of the gospel would have to admit that he would rather preach to fifty than five, see 500 converted than 50. And this is not an illegitimate desire, for who would not rather that 500 escape wrath than 50. Moreover, I would think it a great thing for there to be more mouths praising the Savior. I, for one, would be over-joyed if God were pleased to open up the storehouses of heaven and fill our little struggling churches. News of a church having to build a new sanctuary to accommodate new converts would be waters of refreshing to my soul. If someone truly didn't care about numbers, I would seriously doubt if he cared about anything at all in the gospel.
When does concern about numbers become wrong?
1) When it causes us to dilute our gospel in order to attract greater crowds. If we do dilute the gospel and thereby attract a greater crowd, all we have is a great crowd of goats. All we will have accomplished is the double ruination of lost sinners and the disgracing of our Lord.
2) When it causes us to use methods which are inconsistent with the gospel in order to attract crowds. We could quickly fill our churches if we began using long, drawn-out, invitations and altar calls. We could pack our sanctuaries if we would simply bring in some entertainment or announce a series on some contemporary issue. But the result would be the same as a diluted gospel.
3) When it causes us to despise the work God is doing. Even if it be, to us, a small work, it is God's work, and we should never despise the work of God's hands!