I once read of a professor who had a class of medical students about to become doctors. On one of their last tests, he asked, “What are the names of the custodial workers on this floor?” Students were outraged and asked if he was serious. He assured them he was. When no one knew the answer, he explained, “You may be the doctors in a hospital, but it’s everyone else who keeps it running. Without custodial workers the trash doesn’t get taken out, the floors aren’t cleaned and operating rooms won’t be sterile. You are not alone in working to make people better. Get to know those in your hospitals because no one who works there is insignificant.” Many of those doctors began to value the people who assisted them.
In 1 Samuel 3, the boy Samuel was probably a preteen. He had grown up in the Tabernacle after his mom dropped him off as an offering to God. He had seen how the prophet Eli’s sons had disobeyed the Lord and took advantage of people in the previous chapter. Verse one says, “Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the LORD by assisting Eli” (NLT). Before Samuel became a great prophet, he served and assisted. He was faithful to his calling in a corrupt environment where Eli’s sons were not being disciplined for their blasphemous behavior. I love that it says he served the Lord by assisting. He was faithful in the practical responsibilities that were given to him and it was received as serving God.
In Matthew 25, Jesus told the Parable of the Talents. When the first one showed he could be trusted with the few talents he was given, the master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” Most of us have callings to assist others in ministry. Are we serving the Lord where He has placed us or are we wishing we had greater roles? We can blame the environment we’re in, we can criticize those in authority or we can serve the Lord by doing what He’s asked us to do. Churches can’t fully minister unless there are people who help others find parking, have smiling faces welcoming in people who are unsure if they should be there or have ushers who help people find a seat. The ministry of assistance is often overlooked and under appreciated even by those who are in that ministry now. The path to greater responsibilities in the Kingdom is to be faithful where you are now.
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