DAD'S RAMBLINGS --PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE

Happy Fourth of July

"So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they (Saul, Barnabas) went down to Seleucia, and from thee they sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant." (Acts 13:4-5)

The Holy Spirit had separated Barnabas and Saul for the work that He wanted them to do. So the church laid hands on them and sent them out to do missionary ministry. But it wasn't long until Saul took the preeminent position of leadership in the team. Barnabas receded to second place.

There is another interesting thing in this text. Barnabas and Saul were recognized as the ministering leaders while the Apostle John tagged along as an "assistant." John – one of the original 12 disciples and the one closest to Jesus – was considered an assistant, in the role of helping the other two.

This is an amazing thing. And there is no indication of ill-will on the part of John in being the third man. It speaks volumes about the character of John. No wonder he was able to write such beautiful letters that spoke so much of love. He certainly demonstrated it. He did not have to have the spotlight.

In any group, there needs to be leaders and assistants. Take an orchestra, for example. Just suppose that no one was willing to play the second part. It would be a sad orchestra, indeed, if there was only the concert master playing the violin. We need the other players to make the orchestra complete.

In Christ's church, we need the leaders – those in the spotlight. But the Apostle Paul makes it clear that the church, as the Body of Christ, needs the hidden parts also – the kidneys, the bladder, the liver – to make the body function properly.

The Church does not function well if there are only the preacher and the elders. It needs the ministry of helps also (I Corinthians 12:28). Assistants are important and they fill a vital role in the ministry of the church. We need people who are willing to play second fiddle with a sweet spirit.

Love, Dad