One of the things where most Christians have a mistaken view is about the service of the Lord. There always has been a kind of ranking, in the ministry of the Lord, that who serves Him better. In the Catholic or other denominations with hierarchical leadership, it is often thought that the one who is in the topmost position is greater than any other office that is under his/her position. Some others are of the view that only Christian ministers say pastors, evangelists, teachers and missionaries, are the only servants of the Lord God. Even in these Christian ministerial offices, some tend to rank any of them as higher than the others. For example, a missionary working among the remote villagers is considered as doing a greater ministry than a theological teacher in a seminary. However, this is a mistaken view. Because, biblically speaking, there are no ranks in the service of the Lord.
Let us begin with Genesis. When God created everything and placed humans in it, the only job that they were supposed to do was to till the ground and keep it. They are supposed to guard the creation as the stewards and continue to keep the goodness continuing. They are also told to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. In this view, farming and parenting are services for the Lord. That is, by engaging in the farming work, humans are rendering the service to the Lord because they are guarding and keeping the land. Even though these works are associated with pain and suffering because of sin and curse, the work in itself is not accursed.
Any work that functions for the human good is rendering a service to the Lord. As long as human labour does not work for the destruction of society and creation, it can be considered as service for the Lord. However, there is no ranking in these services. For example, a mother milking her baby is no lesser than a pastor ministering in the church. Likewise, a milkmaid is no lesser than an ecclesiastical leader governing from the headquarters. In other words, every vocation that is needed for the survival and sustenance of humanity and every service that is needed for the stability of society is the service for the Lord. There is no monopoly of any office in God’s ministry.
Once James and John approached Jesus asking Him to offer seats beside His throne in the Kingdom of God. Jesus replied to them saying that whoever wants to become great must become the servant of all. Implicitly, it means, the greatness does not lie in one’s position but the amount of one’s service. However, there is no basis to argue for who is rendering a greater service for the Lord.
In fact, there are different kinds of works, offices, positions and responsibilities in the world. However, none of these differences makes anyone greatest among all. Practically, every service is essential for the survival of society. This is the same in the Church too. There are differences in terms of spiritual gifts and offices one exercises yet everyone, in his/her own abilities, is working for the edification and growth of the body of Christ. Thus, every service is equally respectable. A farmer working in the fields is as great as a pastor praying on his knees for the church. Differences are essential for progress but it is ungodly to make these difference as a means to discriminate. For all are working in their abilities for the sustenance of society.
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