When I was a young child, I used to love to sit on a riding lawn mower and pretend I was driving it. Of course, I was not old enough, so I just had to keep on pretending. As I got older, mowing the lawn was not so attractive anymore. My job was to mow with the push mower.
I know that a lot of us would rather ride a riding mower. It does a big job faster to where you can really see where you’ve been and it just feels like it makes such a big difference in a short amount of time. The push mower is not so much that way. It does make a difference, and you can see the results as you have mowed where the riding mower couldn’t... its just not quite as obvious. The “Weed-Eater” is the least noticeable, but it really makes a big difference. It trims around the flowers, trees, and fences. It is what gives the yard a fine-tuned, manicured look.
Recently, I had a friend who was feeling that he just wasn’t making as big of a difference in serving the Lord as he would like. His preference would be serving out in the field and on the front lines, on a mission of some type working for the Lord. I recently had the opportunity to meet some of his co-workers. When they found out I was a friend of his they began pouring out their hearts and sharing with me how much they appreciate the beautiful spirit that accompanies both he and his wife. It was obvious that this friend of mine has had quite and impact in the workplace and is quite a servant of the Lord. My friend hadn’t seen it that way, though.
When I started thinking about my friend and his “chores for the Lord” I thought about how we all have different jobs and are equally important in His sight.
I have a friend involved in Urban Ministries. He could be equated with the riding mower in the “lawn of God.” He has huge sections to mow. His job is by no means an easy one, but it is visible by the number of people he brings to Christ even on a daily basis, that he makes a huge difference. When his name is mentioned at church, chances are really good that not only will his name be recognized; he will be recognized as person who is an awesome disciple and has led an amazing number of people to Christ and baptized many into the Community of Christ.
Those missionaries, or riding mowers if you will, are so important in the building of God’s kingdom. God doesn’t just need riding mowers, though. He also needs people like the first friend I mentioned. A push mower might do its job in smaller sections than the riding mower. It does, however, do a lot of work. The duties of the first friend I mentioned are just as important as the urban missionary. He just happens to do his in “chunks”. His ministry is not only enjoyed by his family and his church…it spills over into the workplace to where his co-workers are blessed by it as well.
Now if we really want to get down to the least noticed in mowing God’s yard…we would talk to the “Weed-Eater” operator. They might have done their job so well that it goes unnoticed. No one ever sees those servants of the Lord, as they hold their brothers and sisters up in prayer. But things just wouldn’t be the same without them.
It is no secret that our Heavenly Father has blessed us each with a different set of gifts and talents. If we seek out His will we will know what type of equipment we are in the building of His kingdom.
We all work for the same Boss. We all receive the same benefit package, no matter what our individual job is.
That’s not the end of it, though…we must not forget the reason for it all…we must remember to “mow His yard”.