By Michael Crandall
Senior Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg
Focal Passage: I Corinthians: 12:12-16, 21-22; I Peter 4:9-11
Are you ready to go to work? That was a question that I was grateful to hear, from the head of personnel of a local market. I was a broke college student, living on my own, and I really needed a job! So, when the head of personnel asked me if I was ready to go to work the answer was yes. I asked him when could I start and he said today and I said yes sir! That afternoon I went to work and stayed at that job for a couple of years.
When I was first saved I did not understand that I was supposed to work for my Savior. It was a few years later that I realized that I was supposed to do more than just attend services. I liked just attending services. I liked being able to come and go with no responsibilities. I thought I was a good Christian, little did I know that I was not doing what I was supposed to do. Some would say that only those who receive a pay check from the church are supposed to work at the church. The apostle Paul tells us a different story.
Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth told the people that they all were supposed to work in the ministry there. How could Paul have the nerve to say that! Why should the average person on the pew be required to work? Well the answer is that as a believer and follower of Christ we are all called to serve. Not everyone will do the same thing but we are all needed in the ministry!
Paul writes in verses 14-16: “For the body is not one member, but many. ‘If the foot says, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.” If we would read and understand these verses we will understand that we are called to serve, each and every one of us. Even though we may not understand what we are supposed to do we still have a purpose.
At times if we are not careful we will look down upon the people who cannot sing, preach, play a musical instrument, or run our media and sound. But we must remember that the custodians, cooks, lawn services, and table cleaners are just as important as anyone else. We must remember that we are to serve together and with a Christ-like attitude.
Scripture tells us that we are to “Be hospitable to one another without complaint” (I Peter 4:9). Imagine a group of Baptists gathering and not complaining; that is almost unheard of! But guess what, that is exactly what the Bible tells us to do! When we serve we are called not to fuss about it even though at times we do not want to do that particular thing. We are called to share the gospel of Jesus with everyone, and yes, cleaning the bathrooms helps us share the gospel. And if you want to know how it helps, just let those bathrooms go unclean, and when your next group of visitors walk in them and never come back then you will understand that everyone has a major part in ministry!
