Christian Service

Reading: Numbers 1-4

If you have ever played on a sports team, you understand that there are different positions that require a different skill set. Some players are great defensively while others can shoot, pass, or hit the ball in an amazing way. Let’s take football for example. The defensive end won’t be required to do the same job as the quarterback, as their ability is in different areas. If every player tried to be the quarterback, to whom would he pass it? What if the kicker decided that he didn’t get enough ‘field time’ and decided to be a blocker? A team can’t have everyone doing the same job, just as a church can’t have everyone doing the same thing either. 

Paul addresses this same issue in the New Testament. See here in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26:

“For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it."

Just for today, I will realize that I have a job in the House of God. It may not be the most prestigious or the exact job I desire, but there is something I can do and it is important in its own way. We each have our own strengths and talents. For some, teaching a Sunday School class is what they do. For others, it may be filling the job of the usher. Maybe your job is simply to be faithful. Don’t underestimate the importance of your strengths.