2025-06-27
Good morning, Dear Ones,
Last week, I cited PHIL 2: 3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves.” That’s the attitude the Lord wants us to have when we join a church community and are asked to give of our time and talents. When we are young, we may not know what talents we have. So, we must try different pursuits until we discover them. Of course, there are people who know from the time they are tiny children that they have a particular talent that they train as they age. An example might be someone who plays piano, organ, or some other instrument from the time they are very young, and they love doing that. Certainly, singing in a church choir or playing in various combinations of instruments might be a way to serve. Such a person might volunteer to use this talent for church services.
Using one’s talent(s) for the benefit of others is a form or worship—a way to honor God. If he is comfortable speaking publicly, he might be a reader of Scripture during the church service. If he is an artist that loves to paint pictures, there are several ways his art- work can be used in the service—doing a painting on the theme of the service or painting backgrounds for slides shown, are examples. If a person does calligraphy, that can be used for church functions. There are many less- public tasks that people do—things like running audio-visual equipment to live stream services, running the slides during a service. If a person has a green thumb and loves to work with plants and grass, this kind of maintenance work serves the church. No church can function properly without a janitorial crew-yet another way to serve. No function for God is less important than another, just as no person is less important to God than another. Churches need leaders and those who work for them. Being administrators, pastors, running the church office, keeping the books, answering phones, welcoming visitors, etc.—all really matter. 2 COR 9: 8, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
So far, some of the many tasks to keep a church going have been discussed. But, as Paul Harvey would have said, “There is so much more.” There are many vital needs for work done outside the church walls, as well. Some churches have food and/or clothing banks, for supplying the needs of those who have fallen on hard times and can’t afford these things the usual way. Donations and tasks are given or done by such organizations as Feed My Starving Children, Second Harvest, and St. Vincent de Paul to take up the slack that church-run food and clothing banks can’t fill. People needing legal and medical help, for example Legal Aid and St. Jude Hospital, open access to the needy and those with children with catastrophic cancers. Wounded Warriors and Paralyzed Veterans of America help our servicemen and women. Habitat for Humanity helps people recover from homelessness. When trouble comes, our Lord reminds us of this wise advice, in MT 11: 28-30. “Come to Me, all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
People with a special love for animals are often needed in rescue missions due to horrific weather, fires, and other natural events. Working with existing agencies in these rescues and animal care can lead to life-saving adoptions and reunions with their owners. When the terrible fires happened a few years ago in Australia, I was in a group that made sacks for baby animals whose parents had perished in those fires. PETA and other organizations help these creatures survive. Remember PHIL 4: 19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
PRAYER: O Lord, You have given people a myriad of skill sets designed to meet their own needs of those of the people around them. Our gratitude for these gifts motivates us to serve You in so many ways. These gifts are both ways to worship You and avenues for You to grow us spiritually. As we mature, we become less self-absorbed and more helpful to others. Our relationship with You matures and becomes the stuff of worthwhile and lasting legacies. JAS 1: 17-18, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created.” Eternal praise and thanksgiving is what we offer You, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: Serving our Father in heaven as He would wish means having a profound understanding RO 12: 4-5. That will be the focus of next week’s message. We must see that while God is the ultimate governing authority in our lives, it’s necessary to submit to some subordinate authorities in our churches, communities, etc. Obeying traffic laws, taking directions from first responders in emergencies, listening to advice from elders who are more experienced, simply makes sense. Most often our parents and teachers have our best interests in mind. Learning is both from “street smarts” and academic instruction. They both matter. Our outside interests, e.g. my own reading, knitting, and crochet can sometimes be applied to doing the Lord’s work. What a blessing it would be if we could honestly say this to our Lord at the end of our lives! JN 17: 4, “I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do.” Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be with You Always,
Lynn JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2025. All Rights Reserved.
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