WE CAN’T DO MUCH, BUT WE’RE HERE TO HELP

 

            The men’s ministry at Union Springs Baptist Church in Randolph, Alabama, voted to put new shingles on the roof of the old educational wing. Several of the men were carpenters, and they met on a Saturday morning with others who knew how to help replace shingles.

            As summer days in Alabama are hot and humid, the men and boys decided to start work by seven o’clock. Some roof repairmen will leave the old shingles on for added protection, but the shingles on this old building were too deteriorated. To do the job right, workers remove the old shingles.

            Around six thirty the men and boys started gathering. Two men, Ollie and Cody, came that morning. Ollie was well into his seventies, and Cody was in his early sixties and had glaucoma. Both of them said, “We can’t do much, but we’re here to help.” Both men enjoyed working around the church and always came ready to do something.

            Men and boys started the laborious job of tearing off the old shingles and pushing them off the roof. Torn shingles, nails, and old tarpaper went tumbling over the edge of the roof and onto the ground. The boys got a thrill being destructive.

            When the roof was clean, men and boys carried new rolls of tarpaper, new shingles, and new nails onto the roof. Chalk lines marked the places where new shingles would go, and the noise of hammers pounding against new nails sounded in a methodical rhythm as the shingles were systematically attached to the roof.

            The ladies of the church said that they would bring dinner for the crew. Because of the great turnout of men and boys, the roof was finished before eleven o’clock and before the ladies arrived with dinner!

            Before the workmen started down from the roof to get ready for dinner, they took a break to cool off. The topic of conversation was the cleanup. All the old shingles, tarpaper, nails, paper that had wrapped the new shingles, and scrap pieces from the new shingles were on the ground. The sun was almost straight overhead, and it was hot.

            Every worker got a surprise when he got to the ground. There was not a single piece of refuse there! Ollie and Cody had picked up every piece and hauled it away in a wheelbarrow. They burned what they could and threw the rest in the trash. The two men who “could not do anything” had finished the part that all the men and boys were dreading. It was a wonderful feeling to be doing something for God’s house!

            Everyone complimented each other. Ollie and Cody said the new roof was perfect. The men and the boys thanked Ollie and Cody for their great cleanup. Everyone thanked the ladies for a delicious dinner.

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. (Nehemiah 4:6, NIV)

 

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (I Corinthians 3:8–9, King James Version)

 

Think about this: When was the last time you thanked someone who surprised you by doing a task you dreaded to tackle?

Take a moment to write down the names of some people who do the small, but important, things around your church.

What gifts do you have, and how are you using them for the Lord?

Prayer: Father, You give each of us gifts to minister in Your kingdom. In the eyes of men, we may not offer much, but You take our limitations and do miraculous work. Help us to do what we can to be intentional in our ministries and faithful in living the Great Commission. Thank You for using people who think they cannot do much, but who do incredible ministries that inspire more for You. Help us to give a word of encouragement or a note of appreciation to those who labor in Your kingdom and help make Your house and worship so wonderful.