Believers in Jesus Christ are given specific spiritual gifts intended for the health and growth of the local church. To be a born-again Christian and a member of a church family without contributing to its work is to be out of alignment with the Word of God. Identifying a flaw or a missing process in the church is not an excuse for disengagement; rather, it is a sign of a specific need that God may be calling that individual to meet.
God commands the use of these gifts for the common good. Just as a physical gift from a loved one is given with the expectation that it will be used, spiritual gifts are entrusted to believers to benefit others. When a person chooses not to serve, the intended recipients lose out on God’s grace, and God is robbed of the glory He would have received through that service. Practical consequences, such as turning children away from classes due to a lack of teachers or staff working late to set up equipment, are direct results of a “consumer” rather than a “contributor” mindset.
The claim of being “too busy” to serve is ultimately a statement about personal priorities. Time is naturally made for what is deemed important. Because the “end of all things is at hand,” obeying God’s command to serve must take priority. We are called to be “stewards,” a term describing those who manage resources according to the owner’s instructions rather than their own desires.
Finally, God will hold every believer accountable for how they used their gifts. This accountability occurs at the “Judgment Seat of Christ,” where Christians are evaluated not for their salvation, but for their faithfulness in the body. While the negligent will face the loss of reward, God is not unjust; He promises to remember and reward the work and love shown by those who faithfully serve the saints.
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Are you ready to move from being a consumer to a contributor? We invite you to find a need in our church today and commit to meeting it.
