Doing the Work of God

 Numbers 3:8
They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle.

All work done to build the kingdom of God is with purpose and is not done in vain. We are all workers together to see the work of God’s tabernacle (His church) be a lighthouse to point others to Jesus. All who are in Christ make up this holy tabernacle, the church of the living God. The church is fitly put together, each of us having a task to do. Paul writes about the importance of each task. “If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” You may feel insignificant, and the work you do is not important, but all things done for Christ are noticed by God. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”(1 Corinth 10:31). What God wants are people who are willing to do the task given to them with thanksgiving. Human nature desires approbation and appreciation for work that is accomplished, but what is important is that we receive the approbation of God, His approval with our life and the work we do for Him. Others may never call your name, or print out your charitable work in the church newsletter, but God sees what you do, and in eternity, that is all that matters. 

Building the Kingdom

Nehemiah 3:2 And next unto him builded …

The building of the wall of Jerusalem was not done single handling by one person. Ezra and Nehemiah get a lot of attention and credit for the rebuilding of the wall and the temple, but it took the cooperation and contributions of many to make it happen. The work of the kingdom is not the job of only preachers and ministries of the gospel, but by everyone that names the Name of Jesus. We are workers together as we build the kingdom of God. Spreading the news that Jesus saves and wants all people of all nations to come together as one people. The world is made up of different cultures and speak different languages, but we all can be children of God, serving and loving Him. The church is more than just a building or a denomination, but a people, washed in the blood of Christ, working to build a better world by sharing the grace of God wherever they go.

Community of Believers

Eph. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Working together as a community of believers will require compromise of preference. Even tho there is a common goal, how we get there can be viewed and achieved differently. We are no longer strangers without common interest. But fellow citizens (a community) of the household of faith. We all having different community that we are apart of. There is the neighborhood community, the work community, the church community, and even a family community. All made up of individuals with different life’s experiences. For a community to work together in harmony, one must be willing to extend grace and understanding to each other. When people insist on having their own way, it no longer become a community, but a kingdom built to oneself. We no longer are servants one to each other, but we become master and tyrants that live life for self. May we learn that for a church to be effective we must fitly work together with the common desire to do the will of God and glorify the Father. 

Workers Together

Roman 12:4 “For as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office”-

Workers together to build the kingdom of God. God has given us particular gifts that make the body of Christ work effectively and as one. Each one of us have a part in the operation of advancing God’s work. Not everyone is gifted to speak, or to be a leader. We admire those who can speak and those who are able to lead. But, much of the work that is done is accomplished by those who are in the “trenches” where no one sees the hours of work that are spent doing what needs to be done. We refer to this as “behind the scenes”. Each one of us is called to a ministry. When Jesus saves us from sin and delivers us from the life of sin, He calls us to ministry. Depending on the gifts that He give us, He wants us to use our gifts to share the grace of God to others, to edify each other in the faith, and show love and compassion to a world that is hurting. God sees “behind the scene” and will someday say, “‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”