READ: Exodus 29-31
THINK: In 1961 President John F. Kennedy addressed a joint session of Congress and declared his belief that the United States should commit itself to putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. A few months later, a Congressman who was unsure of whether to vote for or against increased funding of NASA went on a tour of their massive facilities in Houston, TX. Towards the end of the day and still unsure of how he’d vote, he entered a warehouse and found a custodian all alone cleaning the facility. The Congressman asked, “What are you doing here so late?” to which the custodian replied, “I’m putting a man on the moon, sir.”
That is a clear understanding of purpose! It would have been easy for the custodian to believe he was “just” sweeping or “just” picking up garbage. But ultimately that’s not what he was doing. Putting a man on the moon required clean floors and trash removal. Without them, it wouldn’t have happened. The custodian had a role to play that was different than the role of the engineers and the astronauts, but he was putting a man on the moon just the same. That’s what he was there for because that’s what it was all about.
Sometimes it’s easy to see ourselves as insignificant. And I know so many people who get frustrated with their jobs because they feel like they aren’t building God’s kingdom the way they would be if they were doing vocational ministry or working as a missionary. But that’s just not the picture that the Bible paints. It never says that there are “spiritual” careers and “unspiritual” or “secular” ones. It never says that some talents and abilities are more important or more useful than others.
So what does it say? That every believer is gifted by the Holy Spirit to build God’s kingdom in this world. That each of us have a different call and a different skill set that is hugely valuable and important – like Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus 31.
God gifted and wired you in precisely the manner that he intended to. Don’t ignore your giftedness. And don’t ever feel like what you are called to do is insignificant. It doesn’t matter whether you are a student or a scientist or a doctor or a secretary or a missionary or a custodian or a mechanic you are not “just” doing anything. The Bible tells us that we are a royal priesthood and that we are Christ’s ambassadors. Whatever you are doing, you have the chance to do it to the best of your ability and to share Christ with those around you!
Sharing Christ and showing his love and doing the best we can to bring glory to God – that’s our “putting a man on the moon.” So, whatever you’re doing – whether it’s a job or a sport or homework or parenting or anything – consider it an opportunity to use the gifts God has given you to bless your world. Whatever you are, be a good one!
PRAY: Thank God for the gifts he’s given you. Ask him how he wants you to use them to bring others to him, and be willing to boldly follow.
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