Everyone Has A Role
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. -- 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
It’s a 20/80 divide. That’s what they always say anyway. I’ve never heard a source for that statistic. I’ve also never doubted it’s truth.
I look around pretty much any church I’ve ever attended and I see it for myself: about 20 percent of the people are doing 80 percent of the work. It’s not right. It’s not how God planned it to be. But there it is.
The joke is that if you want to get something done, ask a busy person. But the reality is that people who are too busy, suffer from burnout and end up pulling away from the church and, by association, God. They become too exhausted to feel the Presence of God.
God intended for every single person to contribute to the body of Christ. Every one. Some people are just too lazy. But most just don’t feel they’ve got anything to contribute. They look around and compare themselves to the lady with the beautiful voice or the man with the handyman skills to do just about anything. They don’t see themselves as having anything to offer that would make a difference to anyone.
They are hurting themselves and those who would benefit from their contributions. Because God gives all of us special gifts to benefit others.
The other night a group of us met at church. We don’t have a great deal in common except that we care about those who are elderly, sick, injured or alone. We can all make phone calls. We can drive someone to a doctor’s appointment. We can visit. We can send a card. We can care. And, honestly, that’s all some folks really need or want.
The thing is when we think of gifts we tend to consider the soloist or the finance whiz or the eloquent teacher. We don’t remember the kind words that came at just the right time. We forget the person who helped arrange the tables for the social. At our church, one man washes the silverware after every Wednesday night dinner. It’s his way of giving back by doing something most really don’t want to do.
Most tasks are not what I’d call “glory” jobs. They’re the little things that are necessary for everything else to come together to do God’s work. Consider the person who cleans the sanctuary, who dusts the piano and vacuums. Consider the person who writes the check to pay the electric bill. Or the person who greets visitors with a smile.
I could go on and on. God has called you to do something for Him. Consider what you enjoy. Think about what you’re good at. Kindness. Compassion. Organization. Housecleaning. Driving. There are many tasks just waiting for someone to step up and take their place to glorify God.
