“I Have Provided for that Purpose…”

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Introduction: When we read I Chronicles we get a glimpse of God at work through His people for generations. As believers these are our ancestors too. It’s not easy to read long lists of unfamiliar names. We do better with dialogue and action filled drama or at least intriguing plots. But these names are here for a purpose. These chronicles are significant. Our approach to these lists should be that of awe and gain a new appreciation of how God has worked with people just like us down through the ages.

First Chronicles begins with Adam, and, for nine chapters Ezra gives us a veritable “Who’s Who” of Israel’s history with special emphasis on David’s royal line.

The passage in chapter 23 focuses on aged David who, though he was not allowed to build the temple for God was still able to make many of the preparations by gathering funds and materials and planning the much of the administration and arrangements for the worship services that would be held in the temple. Chapters 23-28 demonstrate that organization is essential for smooth and effective service to God’s glory.

Verse 5 of chapter 23 mentions four thousand gatekeepers and four thousand people which had the responsibility of leading the praises to the Lord with musical instruments. The verse closes with an interesting comment from God, “I have provided for that purpose…”

Now if you will allow me to make the application of that principle that God is still in the process of “providing” what is needed that He would be appropriately praised and served!

I. The church is a living organism made up of living parts (Verse 12-14)

A. The church is the body of Christ. It is His life extended in today's world. It is the incarnation continued. Paul so completely identifies the church with Christ that he closes verse 12 with, "so also is Christ," when we would have expected him to say, "so also is the church," for it is obvious that he means the church in this verse.

The New Testament concept of the church is oft times far removed from the prevailing contemporary view. We think about the church today in terms of an institution. The New Testament presented the church in terms of an organism...a living Body. J.B. Phillips has remarked about the church that "became fat and short of breath through prosperity...muscle bound by over-organization."

Man is indispensable to the fulfillment of Christ's mission! Literally, we have to be the Body of Christ: hands to do His work; feet to run His errands; a voice to speak for Him. Here is the supreme glory of the Christian. He is a part of the body of Christ upon earth.

B. Each member of the church is a "part of Christ," extending His ministry. The church is a living organism because its various parts are alive, made so by the Spirit received at baptism (verse 13).

William Barclay has pointed out that since Jesus is no longer in the world in the flesh, He must find someone through whom to do the things He desires. He has to find teachers to instruct children, physicians to heal the sick, and messengers to proclaim His story.

A Christian is a person who has heard Jesus' gospel, has agreed to His terms, has met His requirements to become one of His people, obeys His commands for life and service, follows His instructions, does His work, receives His help, and relies upon His promises. He becomes a living tool in the hand of Christ. As he is added with others like himself to the organism of the members of the body of Christ the functioning church is formed.

II. Each member has a distinct Purpose (verses 15-20)

A. Every part of the body has a purpose.

There is nothing particularly beautiful about the internal organs of the human body, but they are made beautiful by their function. To one in need of a kidney, this uncomely organ may be the most beautiful thing in the world. Emptying out communion trays, picking up paper in the pews, calling on delinquent members, cleaning up after a fellowship meal, scrubbing the baptistery, changing sheets in the nursery may not be a comely as being the soloist in the choir or the messenger behind the pulpit, but these are very important functions in a healthy church body.

B. Each organ has a function that no other can do. The organs of the body are vital to the life-process, and the vitality of the whole body is impaired when they fail to function. Each individual is indispensable in some relationship or to some function. Often it is said, "One family really kept that church together." How many churches have died because they lacked that one family? Sometimes a key person in the church made the difference between growth and stagnation. Sometimes a Bible school teacher or dedicated elder has made the difference. Sometimes it has been a widow, who faithfully visited and prayed and provided the necessary motivation. How many times have our Bible colleges and other institutions had that indispensable man at a critical time in their existence? Every individual has a relationship to someone that no one else has, and if he does not reach him for Christ or minister to his needs, no one else will.

C. Every Christian is called to be a minister. In , the saints, or Christians, are all said to be called to the work of ministry. I like the way the Good News Bible translates the verse, "He did this (appointed apostles and other leaders) to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, to build up the body of Christ."

Sam Walton, founder of the highly successful Wal-Mart department stores, always leads new associates (employees) in the "Sam Pledge":

"From this day forward, every customer that comes within ten feet of me, regardless of what I'm doing, in this house, I'm going to look him in the eye, I'm going to smile, I'm going to greet him with a 'Good Morning', or a 'Good Afternoon', or a 'What can I do for you?'--so help me Sam!"

Wouldn't it be great if we could adapt the Sam Pledge into the Samaritan's Pledge:

"From this day forward, every person that comes within ten feet of me, regardless of what I'm doing, in this church, I'm going to look him in the eye, I'm going to smile, I'm going to greet him with a 'Good Morning', or a 'Good Afternoon', or a 'What can I do for you?'--so help me God!" (From Sam Walton, by Vance Trimble, p. 268)

"From this day forward, every person that comes within ten feet of me, regardless of what I'm doing, in this church, I'm going to look him in the eye, I'm going to smile, I'm going to greet him with a 'Good Morning', or a 'Good Afternoon', or a 'What can I do for you?'--so help me God!"

(From Sam Walton, by Vance Trimble, p. 268)

The New Testament picture of the Church leaves no place for spectators. The design of the church is that every member be a participant. The secret of the amazing power of the early church was identified in the fact that "the total membership was mobilized for action."

This idea of christians being involved in ministry is not a new concept. It is as old as the New Testament. But it does seem that it is just now catching on and spreading like wildfire throughout the church. In a 1969 issue of Christianity Today there was an editorial that contained this provocative statement, "While we concern ourselves with making sure that our pulpits are filled by clergymen, let us also endeavor to see that the pews are filled with ministers."

Commenting on the unique quality of volunteerism in America, Alexi de Tocqueville wrote:

"These Americans are peculiar people. If, in a local community, a citizen becomes aware of a human need which is not being met, he thereupon discusses the situation with his neighbors. Suddenly, a committee comes into existence. The committee thereupon begins to operate on behalf of the need and a new community function is established. It is like watching a miracle, because these citizens perform this act without a single reference to any bureaucracy, or any official agency."

"These Americans are peculiar people. If, in a local communtiy, a citizen becomes aware of a human need which is not being met, he thereupon discusses the situation with his neighbors. Suddenly, a committee comes into existence. The committee thereupon begins to operate on behalf of the need and a new communtiy function is established. It is like watching a miracle, because these citizens perform this act without a single reference to any bureaucracy, or any official agency."

Wow! Where do you think that concept came from...from sinful, selfish humankind? No! That's a concept brought over from the character and nature of the Lord's Church. It is the church truly functioning like a body...being sensitive to needs that beg to be met...working together in unity and harmony so that those needs can be met...all to the glory of God and the upbuilding of Christ's Church.

III. Each Part serves the whole (verses 21-24 & )

A. No one must serve in isolation. We need each other. Each program must be sensitive to where it fits into the total program and ministry of the church. No one should be so engrossed with his own work that he thinks another's is relatively unimportant.

One day it occurred to the members of the body that they were doing all the work and that the belly was having all the food. So they held a meeting and after a long discussion decided to strike work until the belly consented to take its proper share of the work. So for a day or two the hands refused to take the food, the mouth refused to receive it and the teeth had no work to do. But after a day or two members began to find that they themselves were not in very active condition. The hands could hardly move; the mouth was all parched and dry, while the legs were unable to support the rest. Thus they found that even the belly in its dull quiet way was doing necessary work for the body and that all must work together or the body would go to pieces.(--Aesop)

B. Self interest must go. Let each person count the other better than himself. The eye does not exist for itself, but for the whole person. The legs do not exist for themselves but to give mobility to the body. The person must perform his function, not to meet his personal needs nor to receive honor and recognition to satisfy his own ego, but to help the body fulfill its purpose.

Church membership is costly, involving a commitment of life to Christ, to the whole body of the church, and to the task that needs to be done.

IV. Health & Harmony are the Results (verses 25-27 & )

A. There is a beautiful unity of the body. How beautiful when the "comely" and "uncomely" function together to fulfill every need of the body and bring it to full vitality. Yet how distressing when an organ does not function properly, robbing the body of its service and disturbing the other organs. This leads to weakness, illness, or even death. What a parable this is for each member of the local church.

Conclusion: While the Christian ought not to think of himself more highly than is justified, neither should he underestimate the importance and responsibility of his position as a member of the body of Christ. You are important to this body of believers! There is much work that needs to be done--God is counting on each of us to do our part--to be involved in ministry. God has provided each of us for His purpose!