Ready and Willing
I’ll never forget the day when I walked into the Children’s Ministry Center men’s restroom and saw an Associate Pastor scrubbing toilets. Even though the janitorial staff was out, the need for bathroom cleanliness was still present. This humble servant saw the need and was willing to do the job, grimy as it was. As a pastor, he could have ignored it; he could have seen himself above having to do it or he could have delegated it to another. But, the need presented itself to him and he was willing. No ministry task was beneath this man and neither should it be for us.
I wonder, are you willing to do anything God calls you to do, including the small, menial or mundane things? Or, do you look only for the great and sensational ministry opportunities? The Bible says, “Unless we are faithful in small matters, we won’t be faithful in large ones. If we cheat even a little, we won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (Luke 16:10 NLT). The size and significance of the task should be irrelevant. The only concern is, does it need to be done? How about in your workplace? Is your daily responsibility so great that you ignore the small ministry opportunities that come your way? You shouldn’t have to clean the restroom at work but you can go out of your way to offer a word of encouragement to someone who is dejected; send a note or email acknowledging someone’s hard work; help someone relocate their residence over the weekend, etc. You get the point. Simply be willing and God will present ministry opportunities for you at work.
As workplace believers, we are never too important to help others in trivial ways. God does not exempt us because we have “arrived” in life. The Bible says, “If you think you are too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important” (Galatians 6:3 NLT). You see, it is in service to others that we become more like Christ. He specialized in things that others wanted to avoid; washing feet, helping children, cooking breakfast and serving the lowly. He expects us to follow His example (John 13:15). Our willingness to do the small things reveals a big and Christ-like heart.
Your workplace challenge is to examine your heart. Are you willing to do the little acts that others won’t or that won’t get noticed? Be willing to trust God in the minor things so that you can gain a larger perspective of His purposes. Be found faithful in the perceived inconsequential tasks around you and make today count for His glory.