Concentrate on YOUR job...

I am finding out that buying a house takes a lot of work and effort… by many different individuals in order to come to conclusion in a satisfactory manner.  I seemed to be in the middle of all of it, but still have to trust in the various professionals as they perform their inspections, complete the necessary paperwork and the legal documents all necessary to assure a proper transaction and thereby a happy buyer and seller!  Everybody has a specific responsibility that must be accomplished before each next step can take place.  And since we close next week, I am depending on each and everyone involved in the process.

Back in the mid-1980’s during my early years in supervision with Hewlett Packard, I spend a large portion of my time evaluating the work performance of those on my teams.   We used a merit based promotion and pay system so it was important for each employee to know exactly what they were being judged on.  Therefore I had to make sure that I wrote clear and concise job descriptions for each worker, and assure that they understood what was expected of them during regular one on one performance reviews.

I found a similar procedure with definitive job descriptions to be advantageous for the volunteers assisting in our children’s and youth programs at the churches we served in as well.  And even though there are subtle differences in some of the ways you manage paid employees as compared to volunteer workers, many of the same difficulties within the workplace still arise and must be dealt with in order to keep the team flowing in unity.

One of the most common situations that I have experienced is workers complaining about the way someone else is doing their job or workers that want to do another’s job instead of their own.  I think this was one of the most often and distracting team breakers that I witnessed in the church.  Many times an individual would begin to act out with negative behaviors because they felt like their particular gifting’s and talents were not be fully utilized by the Pastoral team.  I learned over the years that a detailed job description given to a volunteer at the beginning of their tenure in any position (at least in children and youth ministries) along with lots of thanks, encouragement and personal interaction from leadership helps to assure a joyful, uplifting and well working team effort.

Ephesians 4:16 tells us that the key in the church lies in each of us doing our assigned jobs while keeping our collective eyes focused on the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul tells us that: “He makes the whole body fit together and unites it through the support of every joint.  As each and every part does its job, he makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (God’s Word ©)  The King James Version describes it as “the effectual working… of every part.”  Thayer’s Greek Definition says that this phrase is only used in the New Testament as referring to “superhuman power, whether of God or the devil.”

That to me tells us that Paul was inferring that our individual work or jobs in the church are to be done in His strength and in His grace.  When we are all focused on Him in His strength and endowment of grace for every task, then we grow together in love and can accomplish seemingly unbelievable things that might seem impossible to those not in unity with us!  I believe this is what makes the church stand out in a community.  This ability of the church is one of the things that will draw the unbeliever to us!

So whether you’re leading the Praise and Worship in front of the congregation on Sunday morning, leading a Bible Study class or cleaning the church or mowing the facility’s lawn all by yourself on a Saturday afternoon (and believe me… I’ve done all of these!), do it as unto Him!  Keep your eyes focused on Him and on the overall picture and ministry of the church and its vision for your community.  That’s the focus that will quickly quell any lying thoughts or accusation from the enemy of our souls when he tries to tell you that what you’re doing is inconsequential and/or that you should be doing something “more important.”

We do our part for Him and He makes it all work together in love.  I’ve also found out that promotion usually follows a job well done.  Sounds like a good plan to me… What do you think?  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What or How am I expecting to do my job for and through Him today?”