In this last section concerning exhortation on every believer’s duty to the church, I would mention one more crucial responsibility which every church member has from God. The church is a spiritual house, where every believer is called “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 2:5). Everyone, who is thankful to be forgiven and received by the Lord into His kingdom, will count it a high honour to have a part in God’s glorious purposes for this age which He is accomplishing through faithful local assemblies of believers. Would a thankful child of God despise or forsake the role/s which God expects him to undertake in His church? Undoubtedly, the one who is genuinely committed to the Lord Jesus Christ will also be committed to doing all that Christ has required of him in His church.
Though the Lord expects all His people to serve in the church, some have chosen to remain as mere spectators and avoid serving in the church dutifully and humbly. In a growing church like ours, there are various areas of service. Many brethren serve in multiple areas of the church. Serving the Lord does not necessarily mean rising to leadership roles of the church or full-time service in the church. Without a doubt, God will call some to leadership and full-time service in the church. However, God expects all church members to serve in the church according to their God-given abilities.
Areas of service in the church are many: welcoming the worshippers and attending to their needs, helping in ushering duties, preparing the auditorium for the worship and meetings, setting up and safekeeping all the equipment before and after the meetings, fetching the physically disabled to church meetings, praying with those who are troubled, gospel outreach ministries, visiting the sick and needy to express the love and care of the church, hosting fellowship groups in one’s home, and aiding our global mission outreaches – just to mention a few general areas of service. Many more areas of service are already available, and more can be set up when more members prayerfully and willingly seek to be part of the church’s ministries. Members of the church should extend their God-given spiritual gifts (skill, expertise, and assistance) to sustain services, resolve problems, as well as improve the church ministries’ efficiency.
Consider the apostolic exhortation in Rom. 12:4-8: “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” Rendering of service must always be with the following right attitudes: (i) humility before God; (ii) obedience to His Word; (iii) meekness, love and patience towards fellow workers and the recipients of the service; (iv) willingness, commitment, and thoroughness; (v) sacrificial and joyous spirit. People who whiz past and thrust themselves into service in the church like a “hot shot”, usually end up in quarrels over petty issues and a quick exit from serving. We must continuously maintain attitudes that will foster harmonious colabouring, “for we are labourers together with God” (1 Cor. 3:9). “Giving no offence in any thing,” said Paul concerning his cautious attitude in serving with others, “that the ministry be not blamed” (2 Cor. 6:3). God’s Word teaches us not to let our attitudes or actions be a stumbling block or an offence to others who serve fervently. When you join a team that is working together efficiently in a particular manner, be careful not to stick your oar in a disruptive way. If changes are necessary for improvement, they must be discussed with leaders and fellow team members, and then implemented with patience and prudence. Do nothing rashly, or else it will hurt a well-functioning ministry.
Above all else, faithfulness to God’s Word must always be maintained in every aspect of service in the church. 1 Cor. 4:2 reminds us, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” Along with it, 1 Pet. 4:10 says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” The faithfulness of a good steward of God should always characterise every church member. God desires that His people be consistently obedient to His Word, unwavering in their commitment to be faithful to Him and His purposes. Faithfulness is paramount in our service in the church. Faithfulness must supersede pragmatism and efficiency in all our decisions, choices, attitudes, methods and activities. Loyalty to God and trustworthiness are paramount, not cleverness or creativeness or popularity. God requires faithfulness from all who serve Him.
While the church members serve diligently and faithfully, they must also be appreciative and encouraging of those who serve faithfully around them. Such a servant of the Lord was the apostle Paul. While he served the Lord faithfully, he sincerely and joyfully recommended and spurred on those who were his faithful fellow-labourers. He said of Tychicus, “a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord” (Col. 4:7; cf. Eph. 6:21). Of Onesimus, he said, “a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you” (Col. 4:9). Concerning Timothy, he fondly commended, “Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church” (1 Cor. 4:17). Paul’s generous words about Epaphras were thus: “our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ” (Col. 1:7). Paul also instructed the Philippian church to receive the faithful Epaphroditus and hold him in high regard – “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation” (Phil. 2:29).
Every church member must be ready to serve responsibly in the ministries of the church so that various ministries for the salvation of souls and the edification of the saints will grow from strength to strength. Dear brother/sister, having understood the Lord’s expectation of you to be a serving member of the church, can you be unconcerned and apathetic towards serving in the church? Will you continue to be indifferent, saying, “I don’t know if I want to get involved in the church ministries; I don’t know if I want to work with those people”? Rather, be willing to serve responsibly. Be spontaneous in availing yourself where you can offer your service.