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)
