With servanthood as a goal, job descriptions must be developed and used in such a way that they take people beyond some of the issues that can so easily beset us in our ministries. Control, competition, conceit, chaos, comparisons, and complaining have no place in God’s service.
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Cor. 3:5-9)
How to Develop and Use Job Descriptions with Servanthood as a Goal
Let’s pull some truths out of 1 Corinthians 3:5-9 and find their application in the development and use of job descriptions.
- We must help people understand that no matter the title and position on the job description, they are “only servants” with God as their Master, the One who “has assigned to each his task”. When they see themselves as servants, they’ll tend to get beyond competition with others or the need to control. As leaders, we set the example of servanthood even in how we use job descriptions for regardless of position, we are all co-workers in GOD’s service working in GOD’s field, in GOD’s building.
- Our objective must to be get beyond people merely fulfilling a job description to matching people to the task in accordance with what God wants the person to do — “as the Lord has assigned to each his task”. That means we must pray not only for the development of the ministry description but also pray as we use it in the recruitment process. When God is the match-maker, we will have the right people in the right places.
- No matter how well written the job description might be or how perfectly people fulfill all their responsibilities, the end results are not up to them. The power to change lives resides in God, not us. — “but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” The credit ultimately goes to God, not to ourselves.
- While we all have “one purpose” in the advancement of the Gospel and the change it brings in the lives of those who believe, God does assign different tasks within the process to different people. Notice how the Apostle Paul said that he “planted the seed” and “Apollos watered it”. Such clarification, found in job descriptions, not only takes us beyond chaos to an organized efficiency in doing God’s work but also beyond competition to working together as “co-workers”.
- Though we are all working toward “one purpose” as “co-workers”, we will each be accountable for what we individually do. We “will each be rewarded according to their own labor”, not what the next person does or doesn’t do. Understanding this takes us beyond the need to compare ourselves with others. Our goal is to be faithful in what God has given us to do. If we lay out this expectation from the start, in the job description, we’ll eliminate some of the complaining when others don’t do their part.
For More, Go To: Church Ministry Job Descriptions Resources
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