Volunteers are Priceless
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of
God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31b
Volunteers are seldom paid; not because they are
worthless, but because they are PRICELESS!
And the fact of the matter is, volunteers make up
the vast majority of workers within the church
and most nonprofit organizations. Be they elders,
deacons, Sunday school teachers, food closet
personnel, or ministry team members of every
conceivable description, volunteers make up the
backbone of everything we attempt to accomplish.
In fact, if it were not for men and women of
faith who are willing to give of their time,
talent and treasures, the work of the Kingdom
would go lacking!
Of course, in the business world, if a task needs
to be accomplished, someone is hired to meet the
need. The employer (or “boss”) offers to pay a
reasonable salary for reasonable work... and “the
boss” expects the job to be done... period. And
if the work of the employee fails to meet minimal
expectations, they get a pink slip!
But, in the Ministry we understand that as
volunteers fill the void, and help accomplish the
mission and ministry of Christ, they do so out of
the overflow of time and resources. Most
volunteers work “full-time” secular jobs, which
means they’re vocational calling is beyond
the “four-walls” of ministry. So when they offer
to work in the ministry they’re offering what’s
left... not “left-overs” or second quality
effort, but simply what is left of their time and
talents and expertise AFTER faithfully meeting
the needs of their GREATEST calling; their
family! Not that this provides an excuse for
poor effort and poor-quality ministry. For even
in our non-vocational callings, we are challenged
by God’s Word: “Whatever you do, whether in word
or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”
(Colossians 3:17) and “Whatever you do, work at
it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
It becomes the calling of the professional man or
woman in ministry to gently encourage and support
those who’ve volunteered to work for the Kingdom.
We do so by equipping those under our care with
the tools they need to efficiently and
effectively carry out their share of the Kingdom
duties. In the business world one may speak of
keeping their “thumb” on their employees. In
other words, the “boss” says do it my way or it’s
the highway! But in the Kingdom, we touch in a
different way. Gently nudging others (especially
volunteers in ministry) through encouraging words
and deliberate prayer to do their VERY BEST for
the glory of God. After all, it’s little things
done in big love that make the greatest
difference in our world.
I thank God for the volunteers in ministry that
support and help carry the hope of Christ’s love,
grace and mercy into the darkness of our world.
May God help those of us called to “full-time
ministry” effectively equip those who volunteer
in ministry, to be all they can be for His glory!
Amen.
Posted 09:29
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