– Just a Thought: “Somebody’s got to do it.” Is one way to look at your responsibility. But another way to look at it is, “God gave it or entrusted it to me to do.” How you handle your responsibility is really a matter of perspective. Sometimes we take on a job, and it can seem tedious. But, if we neglect our responsibility and that job goes undone or only halfheartedly done, it shows up. For example, what if the person whose job it is to put the silverware out on the restaurant tables doesn’t do their job or only puts out half the sets. When you sit down at the table, the missing silverware is a problem. No doubt that is a tedious job. But it is important to the next guest who sits at that table. What if we handled our ministry responsibilities at church this way? Do you think anyone would notice? Of course they would! And those kinds of commitments impact everyone not just you. As a pastor, I am forever trying to get folks to understand they are to treat their church responsibilities as a ministry and not a job. Do what you do (no matter your job or responsibility) as unto the Lord, and you will do it differently. Hopefully as you should, with all your heart and with your whole heart in it. The Levites had a very important job. I’m sure there were times they thought, “Really, we are the only ones who can do this? Can’t other people help out?” But other people couldn’t help out for two reasons. First the Lord gave (entrusted) them with the responsibility. And two, it was their responsibility, and no one else’s. The Lord had said, “Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony — over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who goes near it shall be put to death.” (Num 1:50-52) The tabernacle represented God’s presence to the people. The tabernacle was the place of worship for the people. The tabernacle represented God in the midst of the people. It was central to the camp and the lives of every Israelite. So, what if it didn’t get taken down just right? So, what if its items weren’t cared for properly? So, what if it wasn’t set up right? And so what if the Levites didn’t do their job and left it up to someone else. Somebody would do it right? NO! the whole point is not that somebody’s got to do it. The point is God entrusted it to YOU! You don’t have to do it. You ARE to do it and do it for the honor and glory of God! I used to work for a company whose slogan was, “If it’s going to be it’s up to me.” We should not accept our responsibilities grudgingly. We should look and see what the Lord has entrusted to us and then do that with all of our hearts as unto the Lord. If you have responsibility (whether you signed up for it or it was assigned) you have the trust of others that you will take that responsibility and give your best to it. But, more than that, if you have responsibility you have the trust of God who allowed you to be in that position. Treat your responsibility as a trust of God and prove to Him you are worthy of that trust. Serve the Lord by honoring your responsibility. And, as you do what you do, do it as unto the Lord! Thank You Lord for the opportunities You give me to work with and for You. In Jesus name, amen.
