“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in addressing the 2017 graduating class of Harvard University, referenced the 35th president of the USA when he stated: “One of my favourite stories is when John F. Kennedy visited the NASA space centre. He saw a janitor carrying a broom and walked over and asked what he was doing. The janitor responded: “Mr. President, I’m helping put a man on the moon.” Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for.”
A story that has circulated for many years, has been attributed to Christopher Wren who was commissioned to rebuild St. Paul’s Cathedral in London after a devastating fire in 1666. He is said to have asked three different men, engaged in the same kind of work, the following question: “What are you doing?” The first man replied: “I am cutting this stone.’ The second answered: “I am earning money.” But the third man straightened up, squared his shoulders, and holding his mallet in one hand and chisel in the other, proudly replied: “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren to build this great cathedral.”
Today, we have the great privilege off seeing new believers baptized, and others come into membership! As a church family, we rejoice in this glorious day, and anticipate linking arms, and serving side-by-side in the future! But it may be wise to ask ourselves: “What gives our task, in this church, its purpose and meaning?” The apostle Paul, after instructing believers to work heartily for the Lord, gives this great word of encouragement: “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Whether our task in this church is that of janitor, nursery worker, or senior pastor – all must be performed with an eye to pleasing our Saviour, realizing that we serve the Lord Christ! So we welcome with open arms those joining our ranks today, and declare with gratitude to all who would ask, “Together, we are serving the King of kings and Lord of lords, to extend His eternal kingdom to every area of our lives, and to every nation around the globe!”