A Willingness to Serve

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Years ago, when I was a young mom of three small children, I worked part time as a foundation director at our small-town hospital but mostly considered myself a stay-at-home mom.

My husband was serving on the staff-parish relations committee at our church and encouraged me to apply for the children’s ministry position that was becoming available. This encouragement prompted a long-time career in serving churches, both as a children’s ministry coordinator and now as an office manager at Eastridge. My time spent working in churches over 25 years has been very rewarding!

I thought of this as I read a devotion in The Upper Room. The author chose to focus on church volunteers, but I thought of my own years of service, both as an employee AND as a volunteer serving on committees and in other ways.

The Upper Room author says that she had no skills to speak of and didn’t know how she would serve in her church. She prayed, asking God how she could be of service. She did find a role to play, but the point she was making is this, from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” It’s the differences in all of us that make the church work as it should.

Prayer: Dear Lord, show me ways that I can be of service in my church. Help me to look beyond what may be a role that requires a special talent to ways that are needed and may be overlooked. Guide us to serving you and your people. Amen.

Donna Gustafson