In a large family dwelling there are many needs to be met and services to be performed. Growing up as a member of a fairly large family, I remember being called upon to pitch in and do my part, but my part never amounted to much at all compared to the vast amount of work constantly being done by my father and mother. I remember doing some of my chores reluctantly and unwillingly. Oh, how ashamed I am now, of my childish ingratitude and selfishness! If I had only thought for a minute, how so very many things I freely received, I may have considered those chores to be my "reasonable service."
The church of God is a family. The attitude of mature believers is that anything done in service toward the house or the household, is their "reasonable service;" seeing how so very much God has done for them. When the child becomes a parent himself, with a home and responsibilities, he begins to see things that need to be done, and does them, without one thought of praise or reward.., after all, it is his house; and he is enjoying all the benefits. Shouldn't he consider all to be his reasonable service and perform his duties?
As with any large home, there are many jobs to be performed around the church house, some little, some big, but none trivial! Someone once said, If two angels were sent to earth, one to govern a country, the other to sweep the streets; they would not argue over their jobs, but would consider them both to be honorable service to their God. Another put it well, You don't do God a favor by serving Him; He honors you by allowing you to serve Him. The church is not a clubhouse where we merely pay our weekly dues, expecting rights and services to be rendered to us; but this is a family where we serve our God through serving one another and consider it our "reasonable service." When we think of the Son of God washing feet, we should never consider any task beneath us, nor any service too menial or degrading.
Pastor Paul Mahan
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