God's Contractor

You (all) are God's house. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. . . . Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. . . . If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. (1 Cor. 3:9-15 NIV/Message)

This passage of Scripture speaks to me. It reminds me that God's business is the ultimate business, and that whatever a good businessman would invest to build a great company, God's church deserves at least that kind of investment. It really peeves me when people who have the potential to do a lot better think small and shabby when it comes to the church of the living God! But who cares what I think? What does God think? The passage above tells me--surprise, surprise--that God expects first-rate, top quality work. His Kingdom deserves our attention to best practices.

Church leadership is a heavy responsibility. We're contractors, so to speak, hired by God. We're working on the same building. This isn't a competition but a team effort. We better give it our best. If we seek popularity by simply being trendy, putting up an impressive front to mask our actual shallowness, all of our work is eventually going to be shown for what it is.

This also tells me that it's not just my work that needs to be quality. As a leader, I've got to motivate my people to do the same. It's the Temple of God we're building! There's no place for sloppy, mediocre, or "good enough." Do it right and do it big!

Jesus, with your help I can be a master builder. I'll give you my very best. Please bring the best people, the best co-leaders, the best resources to me so that the work we do will please you.

A Little Goes a Long Way

...a great crowd...bread for these people to eat?...five small barley loaves and two small fish... Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed... When they had all had enough to eat...filled twelve baskets... (John 6:5-13)

Observations: Jesus wants to meet people's needs. What seems like little to offer, when given for Jesus' use, multiplies in its benefits. He is a God of plenty, not a God of want. And he provides generously for those who serve others alongside him (12 baskets for 12 apostles).

Application: I often feel like I'm trying to feed and meet the needs of large crowds with just a meager sack lunch. Bottom line, I'm inadequate. All my skills, all my training, all my experience, still inadequate. But I'd rather people be fed by Jesus than by me. He is the Life-giver, not me. Since I know that, I can bring my little to him and he will multiply its effects exponentially. I love that thought of exponential growth of my influence. And on top of that, I can count on him to fill a basketful for me.

Jesus, I'm willing to share what I've got to offer. I know it's not much, compared to the need, but take it and use it. I know you won't waste it. I won't doubt or deny what you can do through me and for me. Amen.