A Simple Roofing Nail

I must share a story I read that I believe applies to ourselves as believers in Christ. It's a great lesson. The story goes like this: There was a congregation that built a beautiful new church building. In fact, folks came from far and wide to see it and admire its beauty! On the roof, a little nail heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure — except the nail! No one even knew he was there, so he became angry and jealous. “If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!” So the nail then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud. That night it rained and torrential winds blew. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew away, and the roof began to leak. The rainwater streaked the walls and all the beautiful murals hanging there. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the pulpit Bible was ruined by all the water. All this because a little nail decided to quit! But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure — but it was also useful! Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!


The moral of the story I'm sharing is this: Every believer is important to the church! Like the nail, we may feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, our absence is felt. Each of us should make certain that we’re a help and not a hindrance to the future spiritual and numerical growth in the body of Christ. Unlike the little nail, let’s never quit. Why? Because it is important to remember that:
1. We Are Members of the Same Body, The Church (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) — As members of the body of Christ, we belong to each other and we need each other. Each member of the body has a function to perform so that the body as a whole will grow and remain healthy. Each part is needed, and no one part should think it’s more important than any other part. Remember, a spiritually healthy church is one in which the various members know their God-given gifts, and use them to serve and edify others in that local body (Ephesians 4:11-16; Romans 12:3-16).

2. We Are Soldiers in the Same "Army" (Ephesians 6:10-18) — The church is an army designed to fight against Satan and the hosts of darkness — not to fight each other. Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." We also need to understand that in the Lord’s army, each individual soldier (Christian) is expected to wage war and fight (1 Timothy 1:18-19; 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4). Our weapons must never be carnal or our struggle will be useless and eventually deadly (2 Corinthians 10:3-6). Therefore, as scripture instructs, "Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6.13).

3. We are all a functioning part (Ephesians 4:13) And in truth, to be functioning at its peak, a physical body needs every part to be working effectively just as our role as the body of Christ is to equip and build one another up “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." To this end, those of us who are stronger, more mature or given gifts, ought to use what we have to empower and equip others in their journey. Some of us will preach, some will teach, others will encourage, some will testify openly, others will pray for those in need, etc. This doesn’t make anyone of us more or less important than another—quite the opposite actually! We are required to have an attitude of servanthood. In fact, in God’s kingdom, the way up is actually down. Jesus Himself told us that in His Kingdom, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" thus signifying servanthood, humility, meekness. Look at Jesus words, "I've given you an example. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13: 15-17).

We serve each other. We need each other. And no one is above another. The blogs I offer to help Christians grow is no more important than the faithful lady who prays quietly from her bedroom each day. In God's Kingdom, the spiritually mature mentor the spiritually immature. The elders instruct the younger. The rich share with the poor. Those who have gifts equip others for acts of service. The powerful defend the powerless. The strong bear with the failings of the weak. Whether you consider yourself a "nail," a shingle, the soffit, flashing, ridge, eave, fascia, or gable in the roof of the house of God, you are more important than you realize! 1 Corinthians 12:26 says (speaking of all believers) "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it." Just as without the nail, everything was affected in a negative way. Today I want to encourage those who feel they have no influence as a Christian, or somehow believe they are insignificant, or that they haven't any ability to affect the conditions of the world, politics, the growth of the Church, overcoming Satans evil devices, whatever it may be, to please realize you are needed! You can and do affect change in all these areas and so much more! And that, regardless of how you have been called by Christ. If you are a Christian, YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED to serve in some capacity regardless of what little part you may think you play. In fact, I would venture to say the private prayers of an 80-year-old Christian woman may be more effective than any blog I write that will more often than not fall upon deaf ears.

Finally, don’t minimize your role! All Christians collectively form the body of Christ. The body is formed of many different parts (Romans 12:4-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). All are important. It does not matter what part of the body you are: You have a purpose. As these Bible verses say: "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it" (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). How could something as insignificant as a little nail be so important? Now you know! Your purpose no matter how big or small is to serve in edifying the Church and to glorify your Father in heaven! It's time to serve!
Until next time,
-Pat-