1 Corinthians 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
So few Christians realize how many opportunities there are to serve the Lord! A friend of mine showed me the above verse years ago, and I have never forgotten it. It is so powerful! Oh, to have Bible believing churches filled with such people! What a light to the lost these churches would be.
Many people ask after they get saved, or when they have a revival in their life what they can do to serve the Lord. A lot of times they want the answer to be something great, like go be a missionary, start a world wide Bible study program, get a radio program etc. The answer though, is nowhere near that. The answer is to serve right where you are. Even if the Lord has called you to do one of these things one day, your training ground is still where you live now. The question that should be asked is “Lord, how can I be a blessing where I am? In my home, in my family, with my friends, and in my church?” Christian, if you can’t be a blessing where you are, you will NEVER be a blessing anywhere else.
It should be your daily goal to make your home a place of comfort and refreshment for your family. To keep things clean and organized, full of sweet, not bitter or harsh, words, full of laughter and cheerfulness. Your goal should be to meet the needs of your friends and family, encouraging and helping them in every way you can. They would be so strengthened if they had you there to always teach and admonish them in the Lord!
Ask any pastor, and he will tell you, that there is so many opportunities to serve God in your church! Be willing to be a part of any ministry, as long as you are serving! If you really have a heart to do great things for God one day, He may look to the small ministries you have had in your life, to see if you were faithful and cheerful in them.
Here are a few of the ministries that we have in our church, I am sure that you will have similar ones: Soul winning and street witnessing, Sunday school classes, the bus ministry, the church cleaning crew, nursery and toddler class, help needed to keep the grass mowed and grounds upkeeping, copying and folding tracts, church bulletins, singing in the choir, helping the sick, praying for the pastor and teachers, and of course attending services and supporting our churches vision with our tithes and offerings.
Whatever you do, don’t serve with a grumbling heart! Don’t get upset when it is your turn to take nursery (I just did this last week! Why am I being asked again?) or cleaning (I can’t believe how dirty these people are! Someone needs to tell them&) or any other thing! Take your ministry joyfully, ready to serve the Lord. “God loveth a cheerful giver.”
Many large churches are lacking in helpers, people who addict themselves to the ministry. They allow others to do nursery and all of these other ministries, and simply take their place in the pew each Sunday. You are needed! Your hands could be used for much good! Involve yourself and your children in the church. Your family will be strengthened because of service. If family time is an issue, then adopt ministries that can be done as a family! All I have to do is look at the joyful sweet faces of the people in my church who are serving for Jesus and know that their spiritual lives are being rewarded. You just never know how much you can grow in the Lord until you place your self at His service.
“I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,
Seeking for some great thing to do, Or wondrous thing to know;
I would be guided as a child, And led where’er I go.
I ask thee for the daily strength, To none that ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life, While keeping at thy side;
Content to fill a little space, If thou be glorified.”
-Women of Great Price
