What does your schedule look like today? Are you busy with your work or will you just be taking it easy? Each day we have the responsibility and opportunity to face new challenges. What work w
ill you be doing?
In 1982 I worked in the local hardware store. My tasks were pretty basic as they included restocking shelves, loading lumber for a ‘do it yourself’ customer, or ringing up the sale on 2 lbs of 16 penny nails. Life was predictable in the hardware business, and this summer job was no exception. One memory from this summer was when I was told my job for the day was to drive the old company truck to Amarillo to pick up a shipment for a costumer. As a 17 year old driving from Dumas to Amarillo (100 miles round trip) in an old Ford pick-up, it not only rattled my nerves, but also add to the stress a load of glass windows. The event in and of itself was a great learning opportunity and for the most part was (thankfully) uneventful. But aside from this one unforgettable task, much of my work at the hardware store/lumber yard was basically day by day and task by task.
Throughout life we move from one job to another, fulfilling the responsibilities that we face within that task. Some of us are energetic in our work, never content to wait for the next assignment, but constantly staying busy. With earnest ambition we do our work swiftly and then move on to the next chore. Workers like this never let the “grass grow under their feet.” Any void in their day is quickly filled with some sort of labor. We affectionately refer to this folks as “the movers and shakers” in our world, ever ready to keep on working.
On the other hand, there are some who, when faced with a task, do the work and get the job done in a satisfactory manner. The work completed may even be above reproach and admirably done. But the difference comes in the next step. Rather than searching out new opportunities, they tend to sit back with folded hands and say, “I’m done!” Or worse yet, they get the work done par-satisfactory and then slink away hoping not to be found when the next need arises. (By the way, workers like that usually find a pink slip at the close of the week…or at least they should.)
Workers in the Lord’s church might very well be classified as one of the two workers listed above. Some are go getters who see the job, roll up their sleeves and “Get ‘er done.” Others, however, will do the work when asked, but ‘What…you want me to do something else?’ We know there is work to do, and many of us will be the first to step up to get that work done. But the fact of the matter remains, with the work that needs to be done, who will do it? Unfortunately it’s usually left up to the 20%. Be careful that you don’t fall into the 80% who are work-less (no, I didn’t say worthless). Notice this passage from the book of Isaiah.
In Isaiah 6, we read the words of Isaiah as he recalls a vision from the throne room of God; “…I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.” The song Isaiah hears echoes in our hearts, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts…” But notice Isaiah’s response when he hears a call to action in verse 8; “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” The Lord is calling for a worker and some undoubted would look around and say, ‘Are you talking to me?’ But Isaiah, having just received forgiveness by a burning coal placed on his lips (vs. 6, 7), speaks up and utters the words of a faithful servant: “Here am I. Send me!”