MENIAL WORK?

As a young man, who had been converted for only a couple of years, I had a very important job in my home church. It was my responsibility to mow the church lawn, mop, wax, and vacuum the church floors, clean the pastor's study, change the church sign, fill the baptistery and heat its water, and do small general repairs around the church property. I was the church janitor. Some folks call such things "menial work".

But not me. I looked upon it then as a very important Job. And my opinion has not changed.

Is it "menial work" to keep the grounds of a place where the gospel is preached? Is it "menial work" to clean the pews where people sit to hear the gospel? Is it "menial work" to dust and polish a pulpit, behind which a man stands to proclaim the everlasting gospel? Is it "menial work" to clean the office where a man studies and seeks a message from God for my soul? Is it "menial work" to clean and fill a Baptistery where believer's publicly confess their faith in Christ? Certainly not! Such work, though it may go unrecognized and unapplauded, is very important.

Not everyone in the church can preach, or teach, or serve on the deacon board. But everyone can make his or her own contribution to the work of the ministry. Women can keep the nursery for others to hear the gospel preached without disturbance, clean the church building for others to have a clean and comfortable place to worship, and graciously entertain God's servants and his people in their homes. Men can keep the house of worship in good repair, provide the necessities of those who preach the gospel, take care of the church grounds, and lend their time and labor in many ways to make possible for people to hear the gospel. What work are you engaged in that is more important than this?

In the service of Christ's kingdom there is no such thing as "menial work". Whatever God enables you to do for the furtherance of the gospel is important, and not to be despised. It is a great privilege to any man to be allowed the honor of being "a doorkeeper in the house of God".

As a pastor, I sincerely appreciate men and women who labor tirelessly and sacrificially in such "menial work". Thank God for "menial workers"! Their contributions are highly valued and most important. Without such services, who would ever hear the gospel we preach? To all who perform this important work, from a heart of love for Christ and his gospel, I say, Thank You.