The Joy of Working Together

1 Corinthians 12:12-20, 27

Colossians 3:23

This morning, I think many of us come to our service with different emotions. There is probably tiredness after the long day yesterday. There may also be a sense of relief that so much work has now been completed. But I am sure there is something—a sense of gratitude. As we think back to the Hungarian Festival and on all the months that led up to it, we feel thankful not only because so much was accomplished, but because moments like these remind us of something important about who we are as a church and who God calls us to be.

Paul writes in Colossians,

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Paul reminds us that God does not separate life into “spiritual” tasks and “ordinary” tasks as easily as we often do. We often imagine that when it comes to our faith, what matters most is what happens during worship, our prayer. But Paul tells us that whatever we do can become an act of worship. Christian life is not just about what happens in church. It’s about glorifying God by bringing Him into every part of life.

Yesterday, and the weeks, months before gave us an opportunity to see that. Of course, there was a lot of work to be done. But what made the experience meaningful was not just the tasks themselves. It was the way we worked together. It was how so many helping, encouraging each other, and working together for something larger than themselves.. Those moments remind us that God created us to live in fellowship with each another.

Many of you remember Evelyn Fodor, and how she used to make handmade quilts we raffled off for the Hungarian Festival. And I think those quilts symbolized our work together. When a person is working on a quilt one square might be blue, another red, another patterned that seems completely unrelated to all the others.

But then, little by little, those pieces are sewn together, and when the work is completed, a beautiful design appears that none of the individual pieces could have shown by themselves. The church is very much like that quilt.

Each of us contributes a small piece, some organize, others cook or do shopping. Some pray, or encourage others. Others serve quietly in ways that maybe few people notice. At times, our contribution may seem small by itself. We may wonder whether it really makes a difference.

But what seems like a small act of service becomes part of something much larger in God’s hands. He takes all of our gifts, efforts, acts of love, and He puts them together into something beautiful. That is one of the joys of working together. We realize that God is creating something none of us could do alone.

That is why the joy of working together is not really found in the completion of a project. If it were, the joy would disappear as soon as the project ended. Or, if the project does not bring the desired result, it could discourage us. But the deeper joy comes from the relationships that we form and strengthen along the way. Some of our favorite memories from church life might not be about sermons, meetings, or big programs. They are maybe moments when we worked together toward something and found fellowship, and relationships, and made this church more and more our family.

That is one of the reasons God often calls His people to serve together. Because WHILE we think we are accomplishing something, He is accomplishing something more in us. We think we are preparing an event, but God is bringing us closer to each other. We think we are solving problems, but God is teaching us patience, generosity and love. We think we are giving something to Him, but many times He is shaping us and bringing us closer to each other.

When we look at Jesus’ service, we see that this was His way as well. Jesus didn’t work alone. He gathered disciples. He sent them out together. He taught them together. He shared meals with them. Even when they struggled, disagreed, and misunderstood Him, He continued to form them into a community. By the time the early church started after Pentecost, those believers understood that they could accomplish far more together than they ever could alone. Their strength was in their shared faith and serving God together.

The Gospel teaches us that everything we do has a greater meaning when it is done for the glory of God rather than for ourselves.

This is why Paul says:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

Notice that Paul doesn’t say, “Whatever you do in worship,” or “Whatever you do in ministry.” He simply says, “Whatever you do.” Whether we are serving in the church, caring for our families, helping and encouraging others, or carrying out simple responsibilities, we have opportunities to honor God.

So today let us give thanks not only for what we accomplished yesterday but for what God continues to accomplish among us. Let us give thanks for our fellowship, for the friendships, for the joy of serving together. And as we continue our service, let us remember that even the smallest acts of service is important. And most of all, let us remember, that whenever we work together in faith and love, we are participating in something far greater than in our own lives, but we are building God’s Kingdom.