CALLED TO SERVE
A gifted young man with a bright future went to the mission field. His salary was very little. A large company wanted him to go to work with them and offered him 5 times the salary he was making as a missionary. He refused. They then offered him 10 times the salary but again he refused. They said they would offer even more money but the man replied, "Oh, the salary is big enough - it is the job that is not".
Today we are here from many different backgrounds. Whatever your job or VOCATION, if you are a Christian then you are called to serve. This should be your mission and focus.
Nehemiah 3:1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them. 3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors. 6 The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah--Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth--places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.
1. Everyone is Together - next to him ...
When they went out to build up the wall everyone took a section and worked on it, side by side. There were men and women, young and old, rich and poor, all together. Everyone had a place to work and a section of the wall to complete so everyone could together at the same time. It would have been a problem if everyone had looked to one section and began to fight over who would get it.
This is true for the church. There are many areas of need in the body and many parts of the wall which need building up. Everyone is needed.
Let me ask, do you approach service by saying "give me the Sheep Gate" or do you say "where is there a hole I can work on". Yes gifts and abilities are important but does your service flow from a desire to simply help?
One young man from Stanford University went to for a job interview. He was told that all the business needed was a typist. He said that he would take the job but could not start until the next week. When he started work he was asked why he had delayed in coming and he said it was because he had never used a typewriter before so he had rented one and had used the week to learn how to type. His name was Herbert Hoover.
During the Second World War, a church in Strasbourg was destroyed. After the bombing, church members went to see what was left. Though the entire roof had fallen in, a statue of Christ with outstretched hands which had been carved centuries before by a great artist was still standing erect. It was unharmed except that both hands had been sheered off by a falling beam. A sculptor in town and asked if he could replace the hands of the statue and even offered to do it for nothing. The church officials decided not to accept his offer. Why? They felt that the statue without hands would be the greatest illusion possible that God’s work is done through His people. In a very real sense that’s true. Jesus Christ chooses human hands. Sometimes they seem to be the most infirm hands, the least potentially successful hands, or the least qualified hands -- but those are the hands He uses.
2. Everyone is Needed - and known by God
This is a long list of names which we read together. We know very little about the people who are listed, but we do know that God knew them and saw their effort. They were all important enough to be named.
Every person is needed in this church. Whatever your areas of service, you play an integral part of this ministry. Many serve wekk in and week out often without any recognition. They go about the ministry which the Lord has called them to. They may not get their names into the Bible like these people did but God knows their service and sees their sacrifice.
3. Everyone is an Equal – titles can get in the way
Notice that not everyone who worked on the wall was in the construction business. In fact, we see that they were people from all walks of life that were involved in the work. Goldsmiths and perfume makers worked next to farmers. All were willing to be involved in the work despite their individual vocation.
It should be noted that there was one group that did not work. It says that the nobles would not work under the supervisors. It is like that sometimes in the church today. Jesus had the greatest title of any man that ever has or will live but he came as a servant.
How about you? After serving as a pastor for many years Naomi and I served on OM’s ship the Doulos. My first job on the ship was not leading the services or preaching, it was painting the smoke stack. I remember thinking at the time - why am I doing this? A part of me was asking "don’t these people know who I am? Don’t they understand my gifts and abilites?" I was not given that job because I was bad at my vocation. I was given that job because it needed to be done. The stack needed to be painted and I was available. So I did it and it ended up being a great experience.
Unfortunately those with the most in terms of talent, power or possessions often have the hardest time in surrendering to Jesus. They fail not because they are not able but because they are not willing.
Matt 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
