1 Corinthians 4:1-2 – So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (NIV)

"What's the use?" This was the question I was tempted to ask after a family move. Seeing as I was far away from our former home and church family, it would have been so easy to stay in my warm bed on a Sunday morning. After some searching, my husband and I had decided to attend a tiny French-speaking church in a town nearby. Although I had difficulty following the sermon, my time with this congregation taught me an important lesson.

Whereas once I had been a Sunday School teacher, soloist, Junior Choir director, and Missionary Study teacher, now, because I wasn't fluent in French, I was unable to make any useful contribution. But recognizing the importance of public worship, we continued to attend the services as a family every week. One day, the pastor of the church came to us, and said, "You don't know how much it means to me, when I'm preparing a sermon, to know that you folks will be in church on Sunday. Your faithfulness is a source of encouragement to me."

Sometimes it is easy to feel that only those who are in leadership positions are useful in furthering God's kingdom. Sometimes we confuse zealous church activity as a measurement of our walk with God. But, with God, our faithful obedience should come first, for it is more important than all the other things we do for Him.

Prayer: God, help us not to measure the level of our commitment to You by how deeply involved we are in our church. Instead, teach us to follow You in faithful obedience. Amen.

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About the author:

Elaine Ingalls Hogg <authorhogg@yahoo.ca>
Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada
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