“For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a nail.”
I found this poem fairly recently online, and I have to say I was quite touched by it in all it’s simply-stated tragedy. It made me think of my own life, and the lives of other Christians who may not realize that WE are the nails in God’s kingdom.
I think many struggle with finding their place in the church merely because they consider themselves too small and insignificant compared to other Christians. They fall in the backdrop while others shine, becoming bitter as they feel they are not needed. This kind of attitude eventually leads to unfruitfulness and disunity among the brethren.
Sisters, don’t buy Satan’s lies – you are indeed needed. We all have gifts and talents that can – and actually need – to be used for the good of the whole church. Let us move on past bench-warming and be fruitful! There is no room for laziness in the heart of a Christian woman, but we ALL need to be putting our gifts to work, whether we are a nail, shoe, horse, etc.
Ephesians 4:16 describes the church as: “The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth”. You know the verse; but be sure to always remember that this verse says every joint. *Every* joint. That means you and me! God is calling us to be active and dutiful. All players to the field, chicas – no sidelines and no excuses.
Let us take a little journey through some New Testament passages that show us examples of what the church should look like…
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Christians are to be:
Striving together for the faith of the gospel – Phillippians 1:27
Shining as lights in the world – Phillippians 2:15
Being fruitful in every good work/increasing in knowledge – Colossians 1:10
Always laboring fervently in prayers – Colossians 4:12
Sounding out the word of the Lord/ Spreading their faith abroad – 1 Thessalonians 1:8
Labouring night and day – 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Exhorting/comforting one another – 1 Thessalonians 2:11
Edifying one another – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Travailing night and day – 2 Thessalonians 3:8
Not neglecting their gift – 1 Timothy 4:14
Preparing unto every good work – 2 Timothy 2:21
Throughly furnished unto all good works – 2 Timothy 3:17
Zealous of good works – Titus 2:14
Ready to every good work – Titus 3:1
Careful to maintain good works – Titus 3:8
Ministering to the saints – Hebrews 6:10
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So how do we compare against the first Christians? Do we measure up? Are we being diligent servants, or have we grown lazy? Are we doing all we can, or letting others do all the work? Let us be sure that we are doing all we can to build up Christ’s body lest the whole kingdom suffer…all for the want of a nail!
The labourer is worthy of his reward – 1 Timothy 5:18b
God bless, and take a chill pill!
Mrs. Dustin Bolks