Issue 791 – What Roles? – June 30, 2022
I spent a good part of the day yesterday at the church. The church’s summer camp is next week, and Kathy is leading some of the morning sessions for kids.
That means some dramatic sets needed to be prepared and erected. That is outside of my skill set, but I can do the “hold this,” “go for that,” and “can you find me a?” sort of jobs. All of which I could and did do.
No one will know or remember my tiny supporting role when the dust has cleared from the camp. I’m okay with that.
The relative size or visibility of a task isn’t important to our Lord. What matters is having a willing heart.
Too often, we value a task or the person doing that task based on our perception of their importance.
Often in the church, we see people ranked overseas missionary, pastor, local missionary, elders, deacons, etc. We seem to think that the more “visible” or “spiritual” the task, the greater the individual’s status or influence with God.
Not true. All the roles God has laid out are essential. Understand me. I think missionaries, pastors, elders and the like are vital roles of great importance to the kingdom. Yet, without the support of ushers, greeters, coffee makers, prayer warriors, nursery helpers, sound techs and many more roles, they couldn’t do their parts.
In Acts 6:1-2, we read, “Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”
Some have wrongly concluded that this passage teaches one role is more important than the others. Not so. As we read further, we see the qualifications for this serving role. “Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.” Acts 6:3
The same Spirit is at work in seemingly menial and spiritual tasks. Both are required.
The church is called to act as a body. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, it says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many”
Paul goes on to draw out the body metaphor at great length. We need each other, and the church cannot function as God called it to without someone filling all the various roles.
Ideally, we would all function within the realms of our personal spiritual gifts. Yet, sometimes jobs need to be done, and we must step up to the plate and do them.
Sometimes the Lord does that to help us discover gifts we didn’t know we had. Other times, we do it just because the task needs completing.
In the secular world, many of my job descriptions contained the following words “Other related duties as assigned.” So it is within the church.
If you think a job is beneath you, you should check your ego at the door. If you believe a task is more spiritual or prestigious than another, perhaps you need to reconsider your rating system.
The body needs all of us to function. We all need places to serve. Where are you being called? What is holding you back?
Until next time, May you see that task that needs doing and be willing to step in.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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