Dear Not so Glamorous,
When we get started in ministry, we often have this fantasy of being seen or appreciated by all for our amazing work, but what we don’t realize is that most ministries are doing things that are not the most exciting. At least that is what we tell ourselves as we work in nursery or help clean up the church after an activity. There is no glitz or glam awaiting us as we exit after hours of window cleaning or preparing for VBS. A lot of ministry work is done behind the scenes where only God can see and fully appreciate what you are doing.
Often even those involved in ministry don’t fully know all that goes on in the church. They don’t think about who’s cleaned the bathrooms or got the banners hung for the church picnic. As regular church members, they often forget that someone has to physically do those things, that includes me. I often forget that someone has to work hard behind the scenes to keep things working so others don’t have to worry about it. I can take for granted all that people do, because I actually never see it getting done. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing those ministries that are not seen.
Ruth 2:2 – And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
Ruth was instructed by Naomi to gather grain in the fields for their food. Let’s just be honest, that is not at all glamorous or something that she would be looking forward to do. She would get dirty, have to work long hours in the hot sun, and probably not really get noticed by anyone important. She was asked to do a behind the scenes job that only she and her mother-in-law would know about. At least that is what she thought, but that is getting ahead of the story.
The key is that Ruth was willing to do whatever God wanted her to do, even if it was not in the spotlight or glamorous. She didn’t want her single state to paralyze her from being useful to God and those around her.
And… she didn’t allow the fact that she was a stranger from Moab create fear of others looks or their opinions stop her.
“Too many women stay, shut up at home, because they are too afraid to try something new or on their own. They are not only missing out on being encouraged by others, but also are not exposed to new relationships when they remain at home tied up by cords of fear and feeling sorry for themselves. Allowing the fear of meeting new people and new challenges to control her, may end up causing her to feel bored or even lonely, while all the time missing many satisfying and fulfilling experiences. Don’t stay home as a fearful woman.” – Lady in Waiting, Leslie Ludy
A single, “Serving the Lord brings such inexpressible joy.”
People that have not been involved in serving God, obviously have never experienced the joy that comes from ministry. If they had, then churches wouldn’t struggle finding help and end up begging for volunteers. There would be too many people and not enough roles to fill in the church. We need that type of excitement among our teens and young adults, but sadly they usually are more concerned about their next date or fitting in and looking cool among their friend groups.
So as you start to take steps at becoming involved in ministry, don’t worry about being glamorous or receiving recognition for your hard work. Rather, remember why you are taking these steps into ministry – “God has entrusted you with valuable time, as a single, that you will never have once you are in a committed relationship and he wants you to use it to find fulfillment and joy in Him through ministry.” If you do that, you will receive such a blessing, even if it is just knowing that you are serving God and not wasting your single years on the sofa eating potato chips.
Signing off,
Tami