SET APART TO BUILD (VIDEO)

And (God) himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, equipping the saints for the work of ministry to build up the body of Christ.

I’m not great at construction work.

Many years ago, when I was embarking on my new life into adulthood, I took on a second job as a bricklayer – or to be more exact – a brick carter. The process of building houses was tedious and arduous and often, as I dumped the same bricks in front of the brick layers, I wondered if it was all worth it. Even after numerous loads, it seemed like nothing was happening. It seemed as if the house would perpetually be built, and I was wasting my time.

Yet, what carried me through, was a word from the foreman who said, ‘What you do allows the building to actually go faster. Without you, the bricklayers would have to do all the work, and the one who bought the house would be without a home for significantly longer.’

Changing my perspective, I now recognised the task, but even more importantly the end product: to be part of building a house for people who as of yet had no home.

So it is with building God’s kingdom. At times, we don’t recognise the importance of what we do, the continual sharing of time and small stories with people who want to move into the house someday. We despair because it seems like our menial, arduous tasks don’t add much, and yet the Spirit speaks these words into our ears, ‘What you do allows the building to go faster.’

Paul writes to the united church of Ephesus reminding them, and encouraging them, that their calling and task, worthy of the gospel, is to build up the body of Christ with humility and gentleness and patience and love.

The task is still the same twenty centuries later. Even though it feels as if the kingdom will never be built, God has called specific people to equip the saints for their own ministry. Each adding brick upon brick to those who want to call Christianity their home.

This week, read Ephesians 4:1-16 and reflect on what role you play as you are set apart for building.

Pr Reid Matthias