How is a local church built? Sure, it is Jesus who builds his church – otherwise the labourers labour in vain right? (Psalm 127:1). But what we see from that verse, is that there are still workers who labour. Jesus builds His church, and we His labourers will see fruit from our effort when we recognise that ultimately it is He who does it. But labourers still need to pitch up – labourers need to put their hand to the wheel. Under the supervision and leadership of Jesus Christ, the work will be completed.
What is a quality that we as labourers need for the church to be built, strengthened and equipped to reach this world for Christ?
In one word – faithfulness. Servant hearted, consistent faithfulness. Sometimes that means we should serve in areas that feel like a dream! Other times, especially after a while, it may feel like a duty. How are we to remain faithful and serve with zeal between the duty and the dream?
I had the ‘dream’ feeling around 2007, when I led a children’s ministry. I travelled to USA for ideas, and came back to build something exciting in our church, with a large special offering taken up from the church to action all my ideas. What a ball. The dream. But before long I left that ministry and pursued a call to plant a church in Wales, and along the journey I have served in ways, and continue to serve in ways, that are not what I’d call ‘the dream’. Sometimes, what I need feels more like a ‘duty’ – just doing what needs to be done because – well, there is no one else who can at that time. But that is okay. God builds his church with people who are willing to serve faithfully between the duty and the dream. I have assurance that God sees it all, and my heart, and will reward me.
I was thinking yesterday about Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. In Luke 1:8. Zechariah was serving as a priest before God – it was his turn, chosen by lot according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. I wonder how Zechariah felt in that moment – was this the dream? Or did this feel like a duty? His turn on the rota? But then, the unexpected – an angelic visitation, a promise of a son to make peoples’ hearts ready for the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Not a bad evening after all!
What about where you serve, the rota you are on? Perhaps it feels like the dream, or it feels like a duty. I’m not suggesting that anyone should serve endlessly in a ministry that just feels like a duty – that will likely lead to eventual frustration, stifle other God-given gifts and stop a person from stepping out into new things. No thanks. The church needs Christians who don’t need permission to do kingdom business, and who are willing to have a go! I’m all for ending seasons in ministry well, and serving or leading in new ways.
What I am considering though is that God blesses what we faithfully do even when it may feel like a duty. After all, it’s not about us. It’s about doing what needs to be done so that the church is strengthened, Jesus is glorified and the lost are saved, finding genuine Christian community and fellowship.
So however you serve your church, the body of Christ – somewhere between the dream and the duty – know that God sees it all, and he richly blesses those who serve His body. The church (and this world!) needs servers who are willing to plug the gap out of duty, and it needs servers who thrive in their calling and in ‘the dream’. I pray we will be faithful to the season God has for us today – serving joyfully and with zeal for Jesus (Romans 12:11) – between the duty and the dream.
