Not in Vainers2
Not in Vainers
Back in 2012 when I began writing this little blog I entitled it, “Not in Vain”. It was taken from my dad’s life verse, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain.” I Cor 15:58. I Corinthians 15 is the great chapter about the resurrection. Paul ends the chapter with this exhortation encouraging us that we should live our lives in this manner due to the fact that this life is not all that there is. We will be resurrected and we will live eternally and so how we live now, matters eternally. As I end my time writing this blog I wanted to recognize those who have lived their life in light of eternity and have lived as “not in vainers”.
Here at JBC we recognize two church offices that, we believe, the Bible recognizes. The first is the office of the Elder, Pastor, or Overseer. All three titles referring to different responsibilities of the pastoral position. The second office is that of Deacon. The term Deacon comes from a Greek word that means “to serve”. The Deacon is called to serve the Lord, the church, and the Pastor. They are to do the work of the ministry so that the Pastor is able to spend his time studying and ministering to people. All of the men who have served beside me in this role at JBC have served faithfully and with great honor. In many ways, they are the unsung heroes of JBC. I wish I could name everyone who has served as a Deacon but I know that I would miss some. These men have kept JBC functioning and have allowed all of the Pastors to keep their eyes fixed on the Word of God and Jesus.
So many stories and men come to my mind. These men, over the years have taken care of my family. They have made sure that all of the buildings were well maintained and were welcoming to new people. They have kept an eye on the finances and have proposed budgets that demonstrated a fiscal responsibility and a vision for growth and ministry. They have built buildings, paved parking lots, rebuilt trailers for homes, cleaned up flooded basements, and moved thousands of chairs. They have faithfully and generously given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to those in need. I cannot remember one idea or vision that I have had that they did not support and make sure that we had all we needed to fulfill the ministry. They have spent countless hours in meetings and have read thousands of emails. They have prayed, cared for, and visited many of our members. They have faithfully and reverently set up, served, and cleaned up hundreds of Lord’s Suppers.
I enjoy sports. A good sports game is one where the teams are able to compete and the refs or umps do not get in the way. If you do not see those making sure the game is played fairly and by the rules, then they have done a good job. Deacons are kind of like that. If you are able to come to service and not notice the buildings, the Pastors are not all frayed at the edges, and you are confident that your giving is being used wisely...then you know that the Deacons are doing a good job. We have had 35 years of that kind of ministry at JBC. Men who quietly and faithfully serve. Men who allow the Pastors to function fully in their gifts. Men who do not demand recognition or praise. Men who walk into the service and are immediately told that the toilet is clogged up or the railing is loose or… Thank you to all the men who have served faithfully over the years. Thank you to their wives who have also served alongside of them and who have put up with the five minute meetings after the service that last a bit longer.
Deacons, may you know that your reward is the fact that JBC has been used by God and that Jesus has been lifted up. May you look forward to heaven where God shows you all the ways your service has been used in the kingdom. May you always know how much I have appreciated that you were serving with me.
Back in 2012 when I began writing this little blog I entitled it, “Not in Vain”. It was taken from my dad’s life verse, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor is not in vain.” I Cor 15:58. I Corinthians 15 is the great chapter about the resurrection. Paul ends the chapter with this exhortation encouraging us that we should live our lives in this manner due to the fact that this life is not all that there is. We will be resurrected and we will live eternally and so how we live now, matters eternally. As I end my time writing this blog I wanted to recognize those who have lived their life in light of eternity and have lived as “not in vainers”.
Here at JBC we recognize two church offices that, we believe, the Bible recognizes. The first is the office of the Elder, Pastor, or Overseer. All three titles referring to different responsibilities of the pastoral position. The second office is that of Deacon. The term Deacon comes from a Greek word that means “to serve”. The Deacon is called to serve the Lord, the church, and the Pastor. They are to do the work of the ministry so that the Pastor is able to spend his time studying and ministering to people. All of the men who have served beside me in this role at JBC have served faithfully and with great honor. In many ways, they are the unsung heroes of JBC. I wish I could name everyone who has served as a Deacon but I know that I would miss some. These men have kept JBC functioning and have allowed all of the Pastors to keep their eyes fixed on the Word of God and Jesus.
So many stories and men come to my mind. These men, over the years have taken care of my family. They have made sure that all of the buildings were well maintained and were welcoming to new people. They have kept an eye on the finances and have proposed budgets that demonstrated a fiscal responsibility and a vision for growth and ministry. They have built buildings, paved parking lots, rebuilt trailers for homes, cleaned up flooded basements, and moved thousands of chairs. They have faithfully and generously given away hundreds of thousands of dollars to those in need. I cannot remember one idea or vision that I have had that they did not support and make sure that we had all we needed to fulfill the ministry. They have spent countless hours in meetings and have read thousands of emails. They have prayed, cared for, and visited many of our members. They have faithfully and reverently set up, served, and cleaned up hundreds of Lord’s Suppers.
I enjoy sports. A good sports game is one where the teams are able to compete and the refs or umps do not get in the way. If you do not see those making sure the game is played fairly and by the rules, then they have done a good job. Deacons are kind of like that. If you are able to come to service and not notice the buildings, the Pastors are not all frayed at the edges, and you are confident that your giving is being used wisely...then you know that the Deacons are doing a good job. We have had 35 years of that kind of ministry at JBC. Men who quietly and faithfully serve. Men who allow the Pastors to function fully in their gifts. Men who do not demand recognition or praise. Men who walk into the service and are immediately told that the toilet is clogged up or the railing is loose or… Thank you to all the men who have served faithfully over the years. Thank you to their wives who have also served alongside of them and who have put up with the five minute meetings after the service that last a bit longer.
Deacons, may you know that your reward is the fact that JBC has been used by God and that Jesus has been lifted up. May you look forward to heaven where God shows you all the ways your service has been used in the kingdom. May you always know how much I have appreciated that you were serving with me.
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