Looking at our list of church officers and Sunday School officers, we have a total of 58 positions needing to be filled. Of those 58, several positions require multiple people to serve; ie. assistant teachers, treasurers, musicians, coaches, staff, etc. Every one of those positions is staffed by a volunteer. They aren’t getting a paycheck for what they do or any kind of materialistic perks and benefits. They just do it for the love of the Lord and His work. And I am extremely grateful!
“In 2023, approximately 60.7 million Americans formally volunteered through organizations, dedicating their time and talent to help others. These volunteers collectively contributed over 4.1 billion hours of service, with an estimated economic value of $122.9 billion… In fact, teenagers account for approximately 2.4 billion hours of volunteer work each year. Those hours translate to over $34 billion for the United States economy.”1
These statistics are include those who volunteer once a year as well as those who volunteer weekly or daily. While all volunteers are appreciated, we certainly have to take our hats off to those who volunteer on a regular basis. Without these volunteers, we would be in a world of trouble!
Today is National Volunteer Recognition Day. It is a day to say thank you to all who freely give of their services. Most volunteers don’t want to be recognized. That
reflects their humility. However, Romans 13:7 instructs us to “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
God is always looking for volunteers. Isaiah 6:8 says, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah raises his hand to volunteer. Sadly, the number of Christians who raise their hands is few according to Matthew 9:37-38. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; (38) Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Hopefully you’re not like two-thirds of Americans who don’t volunteer. If so, you are living beneath your calling. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are not saved BY good works. Instead, we are saved TO DO good works. Once we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we can fulfill God’s useful purposes in our life.
Perhaps you are wondering what you could do for the Lord. The possibilities are endless! Would you just raise your hand and say, “Here am I, Lord, send me?” He will take care of the details.
1https://www.volgistics.com/blog/volunteer-statistics-of-2023/
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