Who’s Going To Do The Work?

I came across this piece on a church facebook page a few weeks ago. I had to chuckle because it’s a version of an old article seen in church bulletins years ago.

In fact, it’s so old that I doubt any of our younger readers have ever seen it. And for that matter, maybe even most of our older readers.

It’s supposedly a letter to the preacher from an anonymous member.

Dear Preacher:

There are 566 members in our church, but 100 are frail and elderly. That leaves 466 to do all the work. However, 80 are young people away at college. That leaves 386 to do all the work.

However, 150 of them are tired businessmen, so that leaves 236 to do all the work. 150 are housewives with children. That leaves 86 to do all the work.

There are also 46 members who have other important interests. Which leaves 40 to do all the work, but 15 live too far away to come regularly.

So that leaves 25 to do all the work. And 23 of them say they’ve done their part. So, preacher, that leaves YOU and ME and, frankly, I’m exhausted.

Good luck to you.

A. Member

First of all, the piece is hyperbole. I don’t believe this is the attitude in most churches. For years I’ve been blessed to be associated with churches composed of many hard working, dedicated, and committed Christians, willing to roll up their sleeves and do their part.

Furthermore, Christians who are conscious of their personal responsibility realize you can’t hire the preacher to do your work for you. Yet, there is an aspect to this attitude that is still lurking in some places.

The Bible teaches that every member is a minister. In Romans 12, the apostle Paul says that Body of Christ is composed of many members. Not all have the same function or gifts. Each one, according to his or her “measure of faith” is to use their talents and abilities to serve according to the grace God gives.

In an expanded view of this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the physical body to explain that every member in Christ’s Body, the church, is needed. The hands. The ears. The eyes. The feet. The nose They all have their assigned function. The ear can’t do the work the eyes. Nor the hands the work of the feet.

Just like the physical body works in harmony each doing their assigned work, so does the spiritual Body. Even those we may consider “weaker” or “less honorable.” It’s good to remember “there are no little people in the Body of Christ.” All are important. All are valuable. All are needed.

This text remind us of these six important points.

1. There is a rich diversity in the Body of Christ who all contribute to its success.

2. There is a mutual dependance of the members upon each other necessary for proper functioning

3. The varied duties of each member.

4. The importance of every member.

5. The community of feeling among the members who care for each other.

6. The harmonious working of all the members for the Body to operate properly and smoothly.

The parable of Talents reminds us that we can’t opt out of our personal responsibility to serve the Lord, just because we feel we have less talent than others. God calls on each one to do what they can do.

Who’s going to do the work?

The responsibility is not just laid on the preachers, pastors, or deacons. Each one is needed to do the work.

“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1Cor. 12:12).

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman