Contributaries

 

Pastor Jamie used a great illustration last Sunday.  The pastor of the church has a prominent position leading the congregation, but there are many supporting folk who are working behind the scenes to make the pastor successful.  Pastor Jamie said that the pastor is like the mighty Mississippi river and the helpers are like the tributaries filling the Mississippi river.  Brother Jamie made up a new word to describe these important but behind-the-scenes people: they are ‘contributaries’ (a mix of contributors and tributaries).  The Mississippi is 11 miles wide at its widest and 200 feet deep at its deepest!  But it has 21 major rivers flowing into it along with over 7,000 lesser tributaries that make the mighty river as big as it is.  And churches have janitors, musicians, sound technicians, and ordinary people inviting friends to church each Sunday to make the church what it is.  Paul was a prominent apostle in the New Testament, but in Romans 16, Paul listed 33 helpers who were important ‘contributaries’ to his ministry.  Romans 16:3&4, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks …”  Paul acknowledged that he couldn’t do it alone.  And neither can we!  We need each of you to make this thing called the church work!  Hey, show up next Sunday and do your little insignificant thing ... and do your service for the Lord, and not to be seen by men.