A cargo ship went down. They towed it in and pulled it up out of the water in the shipyard. The engine had failed for some reason. Mechanic after mechanic failed to fix it. Until one day, a man was called to come in. An older man showed up with a small toolbox in hand. He made his way down into the engine room. After a few minutes of looking over the engine very carefully, he pulled out a mallet and hit the engine one good time, placed the mallet in the toolbox and said, “That should do it. Fire it up.” Sure enough, he fixed it. He sent the bill in, and it was for $2,015. The owner was appalled and
demanded an itemized list of services.
To which he received this:
$15 one rubber mallet
$2,000 the experience to know the exact spot to use it.
We have table ministries in the church. These works are just as spiritual as spreading the word and planting the seed. They need experienced, qualified men to oversee them and make sure they are not neglected. As Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Mark 9:37). There is a lot of work that needs to be done in
both table and word ministries.
Today we get to make sure the table works at Maysville are being taken care of. There are men that have been selected to make sure these important spiritual table ministries are overseen and well managed. They are not just any men. These men are just as the mechanic is as qualified, experienced, and skilled. They too know just where to use a “mallet” in these ministries for them to be successful.
Let us follow their example and work alongside them. Let us not saddle them with the whole work. Instead, let us allow them to see in us our talents and abilities. Then allow them to guide our use of them in their areas of work. Then, together, we may begin to accomplish a great deal of work. Together we can make sure these table ministries are well taken care of!
“For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 3:13
-Steve Johnson
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