Faith At Work
- Reflecting God's Character (1)
- It's All About Love (3)
- Here I am. Send me! (4)
- Salt and Light in the Office (5)
Do you ever think you’re not good enough to do something in the church?
Maybe you hear preachers expounding the Scriptures, and you think how full of the Spirit they are. Perhaps you watch as others seem to deal with awkward people in the most loving and gentle way, so unlike how you would respond. We can tend to compare ourselves to others and not measure up, which in turn leads us to not attempt much at all.
Several years ago, I heard a sermon on Isaiah 6 by Rev. John Davies in Flint Evangelical Church. This is the passage where Isaiah sees God sitting on the throne, high and exalted. He sees the glory of God and, by comparison, his sinfulness and the sinfulness of his nation. Then a seraph touches his lips with a live coal and removes his guilt, telling Isaiah that his sin is atoned for. The Lord said, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ Isaiah replied, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ (Isaiah 6:8)
Rev. Davies challenged the congregation, telling us that we don’t have to be adequate for the task; we just need to be available because God will supply our every need. After that sermon, I prayed, ‘Lord, here am I. Send me!’ The Lord did send me. God has supplied my every need and continues to do so.
Doing what I could
Whilst working full-time as a secondary school teacher, I delivered Good News papers around the estate where I lived. I had been doing this for around four years when Arthur answered the door and said he had been longing to meet the person who delivered the papers. We met for a Bible study in my house, then I booked the Carmel village hall for 12 weeks to run a Christianity Explored course.
12 people turned up, and after week 8, I booked the hall indefinitely every Sunday to hold a service. That was 16 years ago, and we are still meeting there. In September 2023, we constituted as Carmel Christian Church, and I was inducted as the pastor. We have had many ups and downs along the way. Arthur and others are now with the Lord.
Trusting God financially
Initially, working full time, with family commitments and pastoring the church, I was finding that I was doing two jobs very badly. I reduced my hours in school to three days a week, which allows more time for pastoral ministry. When you have a mortgage and four kids, you think you can never reduce your income, but God can, and does, supply all our needs. I know that firsthand.
Are you available?
Nowadays, we are often far too busy with work to be committed to service in the church, but God honours those who honour him, and he will supply your every need. I am not adequate for the task of preaching and pastoring a church. Nobody is without Jesus Christ.
Jesus promises us a full life (John 10:10), but it will not be full sitting on the sidelines. Make time and get involved in your church, in whatever way. Maybe even start a new group or work! Remember, you don’t have to be adequate because Jesus is more than adequate. You just need to be willing.
Maybe God is calling you to reduce your work commitments and do more in the church. Here is the challenge – are you available?
