March 24, 2015

“God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:27ff

“Someone has imagined the Carpenter’s tools holding a conference. Brother Hammer presided. Several suggested he leave the meeting because he was too noisy. Replied the Hammer, “If I have to leave this shop, Brother Screw must go also. You have to turn him around again and again to get him to accomplish anything”. Brother Screw then spoke up. “If you wish, I’ll leave. But Brother Plane must leave too. All his work is on the surface. His efforts have no depth.” To this Brother Plane responded, “Brother Rule will also have to withdraw, for he is always measuring folks as though he were the only one who is right.” Brother Rule then complained against Brother Sandpaper: “You ought to leave too because you’re so rough and always rubbing people the wrong way.”

In the midst of all this discussion, in walked the Carpenter of Nazareth. He had arrived to start His day’s work. Putting on His apron, He went to the bench to make a pulpit from which to proclaim the Gospel. He employed the hammer, screw, plane, rule, sandpaper, and all the other tools. After the day’s work when the pulpit was finished, Brother Saw arose and remarked: “Brethren, I observe that all of us are workers together with the Lord.”

Written by an Anonymous person titled “You Are Needed”.

What a wonderful way to imagine how we put into practice what my devotion yesterday was speaking to – the fact that we only work at our best if we work together – like the body only works best when all the members (arms, legs, etc.) are working together. The Carpenter could not build anything if he only had a hammer – and didn’t have any wood, or a saw, nails, or sandpaper. The electrician would never be able to make a light switch work if he didn’t have wire cutters, or a screw driver or some electrical tape.

We each have individual gifts – but none of us have all the gifts that are needed to be an effective, efficient, worshipping community. It takes all the gifts we can muster together – working together – worshipping together – doing ministry together.

Pastor Dave