It
was once my privilege to preach in a church where love and warmth were
especially evident. I was impressed by the members' willingness to pitch in and
work. On the Sunday I spoke, three services were scheduled. The women of the
church had provided a bountiful meal, to be served between the meetings for
visitors who had traveled a long distance.
Following
the dinner, after most of the people had left, I noticed a
distinguished-looking couple clearing the tables and dumping the paper plates
into large plastic bags. When I complimented them on what they were doing, they
said matter-of-factly, "Oh, we're
the 'garbage detail.' We volunteered to clean up after every church function.
We consider it a ministry."
How
wonderful that this man and woman were not only available to serve the Lord,
but they humbly did what others might consider demeaning work. These dear
people were glad to be what they cheerfully called the "garbage detail."
Some
members of the body of Christ are called to serve in places of prominence,
others to labor quietly behind the scenes. Regardless of what the Lord asks us
to do, let's be willing to serve one another through love, knowing that
ultimately we are serving the Lord.
Richard De Haan
There's surely somewhere a lowly
place
In earth's harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life's short day
For Jesus the Crucified.
Prior
There is no insignificant task in
the church.
From “Our Daily Bread,” copyright
2007 by RBC Ministries,
The Test:
I believe
the first test of a truly great man is his humility,” said John Ruskin. Sir Isaac Newton, when an old man, said, “I
am as a child on the seashore picking up a pebble here and a shell there, but
the great ocean of truth lies before me!”
Taken from, Knight’s Master Book
of New Illustrations