Playing Second Fiddle
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
Want to reprint a Forthright article? Our
requirements are easy and our credits are light.
forthright.antville.org/stories/48937/
COLUMN: Field Notes
Playing Second Fiddle
by Michael E. Brooks
For through the grace given to me I say to
everyone among you not to think more
highly of himself than he ought to think;
but to think so as to have sound judgment,
as God has allotted to each a measure of
faith. Romans 12:3
Not many of us are gifted as headline stars. That
is not surprising, considering how few "first
chairs" exist in this world. In an orchestra, the
top billing is given to the first chair of each
instrument. This is the best player of that
instrument in the group. But there can by
definition be only one per orchestra, and there
are not that many orchestras in this world. So
too, Biblical history records very few Davids or
Peters or Pauls. Those few were wonderful, and God
accomplished much through them, but God is not
dependent upon a star for His work to be done.
Far more common in history, both secular and
sacred, have been the "back-up musicians." They
provide the support needed for the star to shine.
They supply the harmony that fills in the sound
and helps the lead musician's part be even more
beautiful.
In non-musical terms, these are the people who
make the arrangements, do the busy work, and
enable the vast details of everyday ministry to be
accomplished. The Bible is full of such figures,
from Aaron and Hur "holding up Moses' hands"
(Exodus 17:12), to the "other members" of Paul's
missionary teams.
One such figure was Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe and
assistant. Jeremiah spent much of his life under
house arrest, with greatly restricted movement.
Baruch not only wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies,
he also went into the city and read them to the
people.
"Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all
that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading
from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord's
house" (Jeremiah 36:8).
The second Major Prophet of the Old Testament is
called "Jeremiah," not "Baruch." It was Jeremiah
who was inspired and called to be a prophet. It
was Jeremiah who spoke God's word and who
ministered to God's people. But without Baruch,
how much would the people have heard? Without
Baruch (or someone like him) would we have
Jeremiah's words today? His role may have been
secondary to Jeremiah's, but it was certainly not
unimportant.
My work emphasizes the importance of assistants. I
plan campaigns months in advance, into areas
thousands of miles away. I cannot attend to the
many small details needed to make the work come
together successfully. But there are many local
brothers and sisters who make those arrangements.
Their names don't go up on the banners as the
speaker, but their contribution is at least as
significant as mine. None of us can serve alone.
We all need the help of others. One of my favorite
statements about the church is,
... the whole body, being fitted and held
together by what every joint supplies,
according to the proper working of each
individual part, causes the growth of the
body for the building up of itself in love
(Ephesians 4:16).
There are many diverse parts to a body, with each
having a particular role to play. The body is most
healthy and effective when every part does what it
is designed to do. So it is with the Church.
There are many Baruchs today in the world and in
the Church. Secretary, executive assistant,
intern, apprentice, and many other titles are
simply other ways to spell "helper."
The vast majority of us are helpers, not soloists.
And that is just fine. I am no musician, but one
instrument I can certainly learn to play is
"second fiddle." Baruch is a good model from which
to learn. Put simply, to play that instrument one
simply: (1) does as he is commanded and (2)
remains faithful to his appointed role.
God gives us our instructions. Ours is simply to
obey his word. God assigned to Jeremiah the role
of inspired prophet, and to Baruch that of scribe
and reader. Each used the gift (ministry) God had
given effectively.
May we be as faithful in using our gifts as these
Old Testament characters were in using theirs.
----
Read this article online, tell us what you think,
see who's commenting, click here:
forthright.antville.org/stories/588582/
----
You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/