A friend once spent a day installing large stone steps in his backyard.
When his 5-year-old daughter begged to help, he suggested she just sing to
encourage him in his work. She said no. She wanted to help. Carefully, when it
would not endanger her, he let her place her hands on the rocks as he moved
them.
He could have built the steps in less time without her. At the end of
the day, though, he not only had new steps but also a daughter bursting with
pride. “Me and Dad made steps,” she announced at dinner that night.
From the beginning, God has relied on people to advance His work. After
equipping Adam to cultivate the land and supervise the animals, God left the
work of the garden in his hands (Gen. 2:15-20).
The pattern has continued. When God wanted a dwelling place on earth, a
tabernacle and temple did not descend from the sky; thousands of artists and
craftsmen worked to fashion them (Ex. 35–38; 1 Kings 6). When Jesus proclaimed
the new reign of God’s kingdom on earth, He invited human beings to help. He
told His disciples, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest” (Matt. 9:38).
As a father does with his children, so does God welcome us as His
kingdom partners.
God uses humble servants to accomplish His great work. (RBC)
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