Be careful what you preach; if you belong to the Lord, He’ll hold you accountable to it. What I mean is this: I usually pride myself on being punctual (though occasionally, I’m late, though not often). Yesterday, I was late because I had some stomach issues, but today, as I was exiting the shower, I noticed a water back-up. I was faced with a dilemma: fix it later, call someone, or fix it right then and there. I chose the last option: my wife needed to shower before work, and if I just left it like it wasn’t my problem, she wouldn’t get the opportunity. And all of this came the day after I wrote about washing feet. I’m not boasting on myself, so please don’t mistake me. I just want to show that it was one of those mornings where God was telling me to put my money where my mouth is. I was late for work (not by much), and I didn’t care today. My wife was able to shower with no hope of a back up, the clog was cleaned, and I have a list of drains to clean when I get home today. I could have complained and said “I don’t have time for this.” I could have said “Don’t shower, we’ll call someone.” But I know that the Lord was calling me to serve my wife.
The thing is, though that this got me thinking about the church. How often do believers say “this isn’t my job?” Isn’t that what the disciples were expressing before Jesus bent down and washed their feet? This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t perpetually do such a thing: after all, Jesus was going to be taken away from them, and wanted to show them what true humility in a leader looked like, not assign perpetual work. But we can’t pass by something the Lord presents us with and say “It’s not my problem.” That is the hinderance of ANY worker, but as a servant of the Church, we’re accountable to the things we’re presented with. When we see something that needs to be done, it’s not the responsibility of the preacher, elder, deacon, Sunday School teacher, Youth worker, nursery care person, or whomever else may or may not be around; if the Lord is presenting us with something, we need to say “Yes, Lord.” So you may be a few minutes late, so what? Whom you serve may be grateful, even if they never know it was you serving them.
1 Peter 4:1-11
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
