Don't do, just to do. Do do because God called you to do.

As I have been walking along here at Melville Baptist Church these last few years, I have noticed two things. First - like everywhere else we have people who serve full-heartedly within the church building. Second - like everywhere else we have people who serve full-heartedly outside the church building.

We see the same people volunteer their time, time and time again. The problem with this is, the same people who have served before are serving yet again. This isn’t always a bad thing, but it can sometimes be a worse thing.

I have two messages. The first is for the person who is overwhelming themselves with taking on too many ministry positions. The second is for the person who is simply just consuming what the church has to offer.

Here at Melville Baptist Church, we have a few ministries on the go. We have a mom’s daybreak, which was designed to give mom’s a place to come and just relax. We have a tot’s program that engages little ones in playtime, songs, snacks and stories about Jesus. We have a lady's Bible study which is a study led by women for women. We have a youth group which is a place where the youth come together make friends within a safe context, and hear the gospel's message while engaging in worship. We also have a mid-week children’s program, which we are transitioning over to Awana. Maybe we need a meaningful men's outreach ministry?

Out of those 5 programs I know of a few individuals who help run 3 of them. Of all those individuals, I have heard that between their responsibilities outside the church combined with the responsibilities they have within the church that they feel stretched. Probably more accurately they feel overburdened. These individuals are amazing. When they see other parts of the Christian body not filling in where there is a need, they jump to it and fill that need. This of course is a massive blessing to us, but what is the cost? What will be the cost down the road?

It is clear that these people are indeed leaders. However, the question begs if we keep on filling in all the positions that there are, how do we encourage others to fill positions that are needed?

I quite enjoy Paul’s take on 1 Corinthians 12 when he talks about the Unity and Diversity in the Body in verses 12-14 he says:

1 Corinthians 12:12–14 NLT

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.

There is a reason why we are called the body of Christ. We are all uniquely gifted to do many different things, and as such, we are also uniquely gifted to reach many different people. Let’s continue reading on with verses 15-20:

1 Corinthians 12:15–20 NLT

If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.

The issue I see happening within the church isn’t so much the notion that “Because I am not a (insert part), I do not belong to the body.” On the contrary, what I see happening is this… the hand, one day, decides that the eye isn’t responding fast enough…so the hand blindfolds the eyes and then proceeds with doing the eye's job. The problem is the hand can never see as good as the eyes. The hand is okay at navigating by feel, but since the eyes can navigate by sight, there is a clear advantage. And the eyes should be allowed to do the job that they have been gifted with, without the hands hindering them.

Lets again continue with this passage verse 21-26:

1 Corinthians 12:21–26 NLT

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

That last part is key to me. “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” Good intentions are good, true. But stop and think. If you just simply do something just because someone needs to do it, are you truly doing what you are called to do? That was a lot of do do’s, but the question stands. Should you be doing it because it needs doing? The saying, “you see a need so you fill a need”, doesn’t mean you are the one who fill’s that need with your time. It could mean you find the person from the body of Christ who is gifted and skilled to run that need and you allow them to fill the need. As a result, you both give all the glory to God. Remember… “If one part (of the body) is honoured, every part (of the body) rejoices with it.”

We aren’t just called to be disciples, we are called to go and make disciples. Even the apostles recognized the need to not do everything because there was simply a need. In Acts 6: 1-7 we see a story about some widows being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. This is indeed an issue that should be addressed. However, in verse 2 we see the apostles saying “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” Their solution instead is to find seven men who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom, to ultimately give these men the responsibility of running that ministry. In verse 4 we see the apostles again saying that this is so they can give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

It is not a bad thing to recognize that if we take on any more, we will not be able to devote ourselves to God in the way he has called us. It is not a bad thing to see certain leadership qualities in someone else and then look at them and encourage them to prayerfully consider stepping into a ministry position. You do not need to do everything, and you should not do everything. When you see a need (inside or outside the church), God might be showing you that need so you can pray about it and then guide someone else to fulfill that need.

Now to those of you who are ever faithful in being an audience, let me ask you this. What are you doing? Now don’t get me wrong I am not asking the question, "What are you doing?" to the person who leaves here today and goes and declares the good news for anyone who will listen and hear. I am asking the question, "What are you doing?", to the person who just sits and listens. The person who doesn't do the doing either inside or outside the church walls. We are all the body of Christ and you are just as important as the person on your left and your right. God has chosen you to be a messenger of His good news. Of the Gospel. Now when I say God has chosen you to be His messenger I don’t mean going to the corner of Davie street in Vancouver or Victoria street in Regina and standing on a soap box yelling out “REPENT FOR THE END IS NEAR”...well… I mean if that is what God calls you to do, go and do it, and do it BOLDLY!

Romans 12:6-8 says this:

Romans 12:6–8 NLT

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

If you are sitting there wondering, okay great but what do I do? I have been feeling called to help, I have been feeling called to proclaim the gospel! I just don’t know how! What are my gifts? This can be a hard question and a really easy question. It's hard because we don’t always agree with what our gifts are or what we are being called to. Even when we have a clear direction from God we sometimes hesitate. Friends and family, the ones who know love you most, and who truly love God, can sometimes be the best insight into what you should do next.

The last couple Sundays Jon has been talking about the book by Soo-Inn Tan called 3-2-1: Following Jesus in Three, which presents the idea of three friends meeting for 2 hours once a month. The idea is that as you form this friendship with two other people you will begin to trust them, and they will begin to trust you. As you meet as friends who are trying to follow Jesus, they will begin to notice things about you, and they will notice the natural gifts the holy spirit has given you. When meeting with this group you can tell them of your thoughts of how you believe God is calling you to serve his people. And they can pray with you and advise you. Maybe you already have a group like this, and if so great! They can certainly walk prayerfully with you as you consider God’s calling on your life.

Maybe you have friends telling you they think you should do a certain ministry, and you have been feeling it as well. However, no matter how hard you pray or what Gideon’s blanket you put out (don’t get me started on the merits of Gideon’s blanket) all the answers are pointing in the same direction, then I simply have one question. What is holding you up?

There is this well-known Parable in Matthew 25:14-30 it goes like this:

Matthew 25:14–30 NIV

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Gospel is like the bags of silver that are mentioned in this parable. We know this good news. We know that Jesus Christ died for our sins and that one day soon he will return to bring us all home. No, we don’t know the day nor the hour, but this is why we must tell the good news to our friends and neighbours. We must be willing to tell them in ways that make them want to listen. Maybe this is sitting with mum’s at mom’s daybreak and just being an ear for them and then responding with love and care. Maybe this is providing safe child care for those moms where they know their toddlers can play and hear good stories. Maybe you are really skilled with grade school kids and so helping at Awana might be your thing. Maybe you see a need to show the youth how to follow the Holy Spirit by presenting the Gospel to them week in and week out. Maybe you just like working with your hands and you are content in the background, so doing supportive care is your niche (changing oil, running the soundboard, visiting with the elderly, or maybe even making post-partumn care baskets.)

1 Peter 4:10-11 says this

1 Peter 4:10–11 NLT

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Don’t selfishly sit on the gifts that God has given you, use them.

Let’s Pray.