It has been said that in the church today we have 20% of the people doing 80% of the work. And, unfortunately, that all too often appears to prove to be true in most churches. But Biblically, it shouldn't be that way.
Paul describes
the church as being like a body made up of different parts which all contribute
to the work of the whole in 1 Corinthians 12. Every member has an important
role to play and the body would be hurting if one or two of the members aren't
working. No one is insignificant and not necessary. Many of us have experienced
a broken bone or some issue with a part of our body that caused it not to work
properly. Didn't that effect what you were able to do? Things are much more
difficult if you don't have the sense of smell in your nose, you cannot use
your right arm, or you have the pain of a broken toe, causing you to limp
around. Can't you accomplish more and do things better when all parts of your
body are functioning properly? Well, the same is true in the church. The church
body is hurting and not as effective in its work if some members choose not to
serve as God has designed them to. Don't think that just coming on Sunday and
sitting through the service doesn't have any effect on anyone else in the fellowship
or on the congregation as a whole. It absolutely does! Just as every member
needs the church to help him or her in their growth in Christ, the church needs
every member to fulfill the mission Christ has given it. The Great Commission
to make disciples of all the nations is far too much for only 20% of the people
to do. All hands are needed on deck for its success.
And
how great of an encouragement it is for us to know that each and every one of
us have a specific place in the fellowship with a distinct role that God has
designed for us to play within it. No one, including you, is part of our family
by accident or doesn't belong here. Not only do you belong a part of the
family, you have been chosen by God to do something within it! In fact, He has
given you a specific gift to enable you to do whatever it is that He wants you
to do. To be the foot, the hand, nose, ear, or eye of the body we could say.
That's the point of vv. 4-11 of 1 Corinthians 12. There is no reason for us not
to be serving in some capacity. (Even those who physically are not able to do
as much on account of age or other circumstances still are just as much an
important necessary part of the fellowship with a special role to play. In
fact, I know that many of our shut-ins who may not be able to serve on any
committees or make it out here for anything spend much time on their knees
praying for the work of the church. I really can't think of anything greater
that they can do than that! That serves as the backbone for all that we do together
as a church holding us up. And we certainly need for it to continue.)
The
Bible reading plan that I have been following this year currently has me in
Nehemiah (as well as Genesis, Matthew, and Acts) and something I read this time
in that book really jumped out at me. In Nehemiah 4:6, where it is reported
that half of the wall around the city of Jerusalem had been built by the
people, it states, "and the people had a heart to work." This
construction occurred in the midst of great discouragement coming from the
words of Sanballat and Tobiah who were striving to put an end to the Jews work
of restoring the city (vv. 1-3) and is remarkable for how fast they were able
to get so much accomplished in a relatively short amount of time. The reason
for such came from the willingness of the people to do the work necessary to
get the job done. How much more could the church do today if all of its members
similarly "had a heart to work?" And why is it that so many don't?
I
think it ultimately comes down to forgetting the privilege it is to serve and
the One who, as our Master, served us. When you think about it, God does not
need us to do His work. He is more than capable to do it all in His power and
strength on His own. But how amazing is it that He chooses to include us in
that work all for His glory? That we have the privilege to serve in His church
and to be a vessel for Him to work through to contribute to the growth of
fellow believers and the addition of the number of the church in our
evangelistic outreach. We should not view service in the church as not
something we have to do. Rather as something
we get to do.
And
we have a Master who Himself modeled such service to us. Who humbled Himself to
do the work of the lowest slave in the household and wash His disciple's feet
(John 13:5-17). In fact, the very reason He came was not to be served by us but
to serve us by laying His life down for our salvation. As He said to His
disciples, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). With such great
service to us, how can we not be moved to want to serve each other in the
church in return? To follow Him in His remarkable service? I have shared with
you before this powerful quote from C. T. Studd which conveys how Christ giving
His all for us should serve as the motivation for us to give our all in service
for Him. In giving up a very successful athletic career and giving away his
vast fortune, he said, "If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no
sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." There is nothing
greater than spending and being spent in doing gospel work in the life of the
church for the One who is worthy of it and gave His very own life for us. To
contribute to something of eternal value that will last far more than just the
coming generation or so.
While
the 20% doing the 80% of the work in the church may be a reality today, it
doesn't have to be. At least if we don't continue to allow it to be so. How are
you using the gifts that God has given you in service to His church right now?
What are some opportunities in the church available for you to serve at the
moment? If you don't know what your spiritual gift or gifts may be, the best
thing to do is to take advantage of any of those opportunities and get serving!
Since these gifts are designed to build up and benefit the church, you will not
discover them outside of service in the church. No evaluation form or book can
help with this or direct you. I know of many who have found out the gifts God
has graciously given them to enable them to serve where He has designed just by
stepping up to serve where there was a need. Unknown to them at the time, it is
exactly the place the Lord wanted them and had already equipped them for. They
would have never found that out had they sat back just asking the Lord what
role He would have them to play in His body and would have continued to miss
out on the blessing to be used by Him for His work if they had done so. God
will make it clear to you what He has equipped you to do for His people to
honor and please Him as you faithful seek to serve in whatever areas are open
for such.
Let's
each figure out together what role the Lord would have us to play in His body
and get to work at doing such with the help of His Spirit which He has so
graciously given! Wouldn't it be great if it could be said about Mt. Joy that
we have 80% of the people doing 100% of the work? Or even 100% of the people
doing 100% of that work? It's possible if we all faithfully seek to be obedient
to the Lord and use His gifts His Spirit has bestowed to us. May the Lord make
it so!
Love
in Christ serving along with you,
Pastor
Lee