The story is told that President Kennedy went to NASA and casually asked a janitor what his job was and the janitor answered that he was helping put a man on the moon. Now I do not want to debate the legitimacy of the story, only want to call out the janitor for understanding and doing his part of the whole.
“4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” – Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
Each of us has a talent or gift that was provided by God. And that gift is for a certain purpose. Where it may not feel as though our part is making a huge dent in the overall spreading of the gospel, it is just as important as the others. The janitor knew that his role was just as important as others in the overall goal of putting a man on the moon. I have been tasked with reaching a certain set or even one individual with the gospel. I may not even know that person and that is okay by me. It does not change the goal of reaching everyone with the gospel.
I have to remember to continue to do my part as tasked by the LORD. My small part is just as important as that of those who are more visible like Billy and Franklin Graham, the Pope, and the leaders of great organizations in the faith. My task may simply be to reach those who do not know of those visible. I may be tasked to meat those who have logged onto the internet and do a search for a topic I have studied. I may be simply the one to put the information out there and allowing God to get it to those who need it. Like the janitor, I may be here to pick up all that which seems to have fallen aside and ensure that it gets to where it is supposed to be. I may be here to keep the path clean, making it easier for others to reach those in need. I have to do my part, whatever that part may be.
I know that I have spoken of my role in our church that is still borrowing space. I am one that helps to “tear down” or “clean up” the space we borrow at the end of the day’s services. It is not a glamorous job and frankly, most don’t even know that I am there and have actually done anything. But, like the janitor, my job is important to the ensuring that we do not wear out our welcome in the space so that we are able to continue using that space to spread the gospel. I am there to do my part even when that part does not seem to be that significant to the visual aspect of spreading the gospel.
As members of the body of Christ, we all may have a different function. One may be visible and another not so much. Yet, the goal is still the same, and none of the jobs are of less significance than the other. We all have to do our part for the glory of God.
What is your part? Are you concerned that you are not getting the recognition that you feel you should for the work you do? What if you were to be like the janitor and did your work knowing that it was important in the spreading of the Gospel?
Trevor's Thoughts 