We are only kidding ourselves if we think we can be part of an assembly and not do any work. In the first place, it simply isn’t fair to want all the privileges of assembly fellowship and none of the responsibilities. On a higher plane, the New Testament calls us to be workers.
The Lord was a worker. “I must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). The life of the Master was one of industry and business. Learning the trade of a carpenter, He knew what it was to work. His Father’s business was the objective of His life, and all of it involved work. At the close of His ministry, He stated an important lesson for us: “The servant is not greater than his lord… (Jn. 13:16).
The Apostle Paul was a worker. Notice the record of this man’s life. It was one of work. He reminded the elders of Ephesus how he labored “night and day.” The greatest apostle takes up his trade, working with his own hands by day, and teaching and preaching by night. Paul knew what it was to manage late shipments of supplies, mistakes in production, unreasonable customers, all at three o’clock in the afternoon before he was to take the prayer meeting that night. This man lived no dreamy life of ease, discussing the finer points of theology. He labored to weariness.
The demands of assembly life require workers. The New Testament church was never intended to be a spectator sport. The idea was never to hire professionals and let the rest observe. No, if the church was to thrive and flourish in times of peace and in times of war, through accommodating civil liberties and fierce persecution, it would require an army of committed workers, working together under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
There is a gospel to preach and the lost to reach. Young and old require different kinds of outreach and gift. There are believers to teach, encourage, visit, restore, correct and feed. There are crises to deal with, the sick to visit, matters to pray over. There are joys and sorrows. There are problems that drive you to “wits end corner.” All of this takes work.
There are resources to rely on. The work to be done would be completely overwhelming and impossible to do if it were not for the resources given to workers. There is God. Paul writes, “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). Notice all the “work” words in that verse. Perhaps some of the weariness “in well doing” comes because we fail to remember that God delights to work with His workers. Assembly work is not to be taken on our shoulders alone. He is there, doing what we cannot do.
Can you think of a greater opportunity than to work with God? Yet it is possible for us to neglect the work of our assembly because we are preoccupied in an unbalanced way with other things. Think how foolish this is. To pass by the opportunity to work with the Lord so we can work with the world!
It is God’s design that we should work in the assembly. The church is precious to God. You could understand if He asked us not to touch it. Yet, by His grace, He equips every believer to have a part in the local assembly. Again Paul’s exhortations to the Corinthians in chapters 12 through 14 of his first letter to them are wise counsel. The Holy Spirit has gifted every believer to function in the body. This has been done with intent and design. We cannot protest we have nothing to offer. Every member is essential.
There is reward for work. You can say all you want about the theoretical question as to whether rewards should motivate us to service, but the reality is that the Lord Himself has determined to reward us. The judgment seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3) shows us that He evaluates the character of our work. Work done for self-glory will be burned up. Work done for God’s glory shall remain.
What about me? Do I do my share of the work? Or do I let others carry my load? Workers are a happy lot. They don’t have time for criticism. Even their sorrows allow them to discover the Master’s consolation.
Do you enjoy assembly fellowship? It takes work.