Recently, a woman wrote to us with a question I found both moving and important:
“For years, attending church meant singing in the choir, playing bells, women’s Bible study, organizing funeral dinners, cleaning the church, making banners. … Now I’m in my mid 70s and all those things are not on my list anymore and I’m wondering: Have I really been worshiping God all these years, or was it just busy work? And how do we know if we are worshiping when we are sitting in church? Sorry to bother you, but I’m locked in my house and my resources are limited.”
Allow me to take a minute to speak directly to her:
Thank you for trusting us with this question. I’m deeply moved by your heart for the Lord and his people, and by your years of faithful, humble service. Never doubt for a moment that your work serving corporate worship, feeding the congregation and helping others grieve, celebrate or just enjoy a beautiful space has been anything but precious in God’s sight. I pray God will give you a glimpse on this side of eternity the difference your love for God and his people made. If not, you will know on the other side.
We live in a culture captivated by the dramatic and heroic, acts that make for attractive headlines and exciting movies. Tragically, the Church is too much like the culture in this way. I’m convinced that those mostly likely to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant” will be those who, like this listener, were faithful in those things our world considers mundane “busywork.” A life spent in everyday faithfulness is the epitome of a “living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.”