Shoulder to Shoulder
“Serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
Zephaniah 3:9 (NIV)
Three weeks ago, I was in charge of a women’s luncheon for 300 women who came, not just from around the country, but literally from around the world. The plans for our time together had been carefully crafted over the last three years. Our national denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), held its 49th annual General Assembly (GA) in my hometown of Birmingham, the birthplace of the PCA.
Our GA event was actually supposed to occur in 2020, but was cancelled due to Covid. This resulted in our Host Committee planning not one, but TWO, General Assemblies. Needless to say, there was a lot of work, re-work, and frustration experienced over the last three years while planning a large event in the middle of a world pandemic. The Women’s Luncheon was just a small part of the four-day event, but it was my part. Our Host Committee Chair laughed when he finally greeted our General Assembly by saying, “The Birmingham Host Committee now has the distinction of serving as the longest serving Host Committee in the history of the PCA.”
But I wasn’t laughing on the morning of our women’s luncheon. I was instead “churning and burning” as I opened my Bible early that morning. I quickly recognized the toxic mix of fear, anxiety, worry, desire for control, and pride issues swirling in my mind and heart. I have finally realized that my obsession and attention to details is ultimately about my pride and performance. Dr. Henry Brandt was correct when he wrote, “The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart.”
The Minor Prophets are often jokingly referred to by theologians as “the clean pages of our Bibles.” Several weeks prior to the GA luncheon, I had been working my way through the Minor Prophets in my daily devotionals. That morning’s readings found me in Zephaniah, a short Old Testament book consisting of only three chapters written 2600 years ago.
I began my daily Bible reading and quickly prayed, “Lord, I could really use an encouraging word from you this morning beyond you singing over me. (Zephaniah 3:17, the only verse I actually knew from Zephaniah!) My heart is churning and burning; I’m fearful and anxious. So many things are out of my control, but I really do want to honor you today and help these women feel welcome, wanted, and worth the trouble.”
The first two Zephaniah chapters moved quickly through prophecies of God’s wrath against sin, future destruction, and the great Day of the Lord. Honestly, there wasn’t a lot of encouragement for me there, but my heart leapt when I read the following words:
“Serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
Zephaniah 3:9
Those five words were God’s timely reminder that I was serving Him; I wasn’t just serving lunch! They were also God’s reminder that I wasn’t alone. God had blessed me with a group of willing and faithful volunteers to serve alongside me. Plus, God himself promises to be with me always (Matthew 28:20). I wasn’t alone and I could trust Him with all of the lunch details no matter the outcome.
Zephaniah’s five words calmed my anxious and controlling heart all morning. A number of snafus occurred throughout the event, including some venue catering miscues; a significant language barrier with the wait staff; and the loss of two of my volunteers to Covid. With each challenge, “serve him shoulder to shoulder” came to my mind and heart. God’s Word is living, active, and sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). His Word met me exactly where I was that morning.
Throughout the day I witnessed women helping each other as we decorated tables, wrapped gift giveaways, distributed prayer calendars, welcomed guests, and directed snagging buffet lines. Along the way I observed women serving others shoulder to shoulder with kindness and grace. In the process I watched community being built, guests being served, and God being honored.
As I looked around the large ballroom, I smiled as I remembered Nehemiah’s record for all of the workers who rebuilt the ruined walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3). The phrases “next to him” or “next to them” are used over twenty times in just 32 verses. Nehemiah wasn’t just rebuilding a ruined wall; he was rebuilding an entire community! So were we.
Speaker Pam Benton
“Serve one another” (Galatians 5:13) is one of the many New Testament mutuality commands, or “house rules,” for the Body of Christ. In the Old Testament, however, the word “serve” is also used as a word for our worship. When done well, serving God shoulder to shoulder with others:
accomplishes a God-given task;
brings good to others;
builds community;
brings joy to us, and
gives glory to God.
Who are you serving today? And are you serving in community with others?
May we all serve Him “shoulder to shoulder” for others’ good, our joy, and God’s glory!