Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

Welcome to a new week!

One of the songs my little boys love to sing is, "Row, row, row your boat." It began to ring in me today as I meditated on I Corinthians 4:1,

"Let a man so account of us, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God."

According to Vines Expository Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, the word used for 'minister' in this verse is hupereta which is an interesting word because it is the word used for the lowest class of criminals in ancient Greece. Why would Paul choose such a base word to describe himself and others who serve in the kingdom of God? The reason becomes clearer when one does a little more study on the word hupereta.

The huperetas were criminals sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in the lowest galleys of huge ship. They were used as the engines to move the ship through the sea. A huge oar was placed in their hands to row the ship. They were chained to the bottom of the ship so they couldn't jump ship and so for a lifetime they had to keep rowing even when they felt tired or unwilling. If you've ever seen the award winning movie, Ben-Hur, you should get a better picture of hupereta.

Here are a few LightPoints for your week:

1.Just as these slaves, when you made a commitment to do the will of God, you were given an oar. That oar is a ministry from God or a position of service in God's kingdom in any area of calling. It could be a business, a career or a position of service in the local church. You must row to keep the whole ship moving.

2. As a minister of Christ, your commitment to God's kingdom should be a lifelong commitment for which there is no turning back. Unlike these slaves, you voluntarily made yourself available to God but like them you consider yourself bound for life in service to your master.

3.You stick to your commitment no matter the circumstances you go through or how you feel at the moment. Just as these slaves couldn't abandon ship when they felt like it, you shouldn't too. Even in times of discouragement, you need to tighten your hold on your oars and keep rowing.The most important times to demonstrate persistence in service is not during the fun and exciting seasons when everything seems to be going well but when everything seems to be dragging and boring, when it seems rowing on is becoming impossible and your hands are getting weary. That is when you need to row and keep on rowing, refusing to quit, knowing that if you quit, the ship will stop moving.

4. You should keep on serving even if you are not appreciated for what you do. These slaves received no appreciation for their efforts. Now, I know everyone wants to be appreciated , however you need to come to the point where you decide that, even if no human says, 'thank you' for what you are doing, you are satisfied with the approval of God and the coming commendation of God when he says "well done" when you stand before him on judgment day.

5. These slaves had to work with other slaves. You cannot fulfill God's calling on your life without learning to work in concert with others. No matter how good you can row, the ship is so big that your lone efforts will not move it even though it is an important part of the whole. Learn to work with others. Share your dreams and visions with others. Engage the power of agreement. The work of the kingdom is a group effort.

Finally, let me say again that the bottom of the boat might not be exciting all the time. Sticking to your responsibilities and calling in the kingdom of God might be rough and tough at times but remember always that as long you keep rowing, you are doing a great work. You are part of the engines that move the kingdom ship forward and God has promised us in Hebrews 6:10 that He "... is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

So, row, row, row and keep on rowing your boat!

Sincerely,

Pastor Lan

 

For other devotionals, please click here