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ADVENT REFLECTION

“The craftspeople” is the theme for our reflection. Craftspeople are people who make things skillfully with their hands. Examples of craftspeople are carpenters, fabricators, welders, tilers, masons, plumbers, decorators, seamstresses, architects and the like. The Tabernacle of the Lord was designed and built by craftspeople commissioned by the Lord. “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.” And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, every one whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. (Exodus 36:1-2)

Dear friend, it is interesting to note that Pastors or Priests are not the only ones called to serve the Lord but craftspeople are also vessels of the Lord in the building of the tabernacle or sanctuary. Without craftspeople, we cannot have beautiful places of worship. Everyone’s service is important in the house of the Lord, therefore we must learn to appreciate and honour the men and women who used their intelligence and skills for the infrastructure development of our chapel buildings or sanctuaries. We usually celebrate and appreciate church leaders, members who support the church financially, and nd members who have held key positions or have served for a long period in committees of the church with citations and certificates of honour but how often do we celebrate and honour selfless craftspeople who have contributed to the building of our chapels or sanctuary? Let us remember that they also play instrumental roles in the ministry of the Church.

Beloved in the Lord, it is again important to know that craftspeople are stewards of their skill and intelligence, we realised from today’s Scripture reading that skill and intelligence are gifts from God which must be used to serve, honour and glorify God. It is rather unfortunate that some craftspeople in our churches have failed to appreciate themselves as stewards of God’s blessing who must avail themselves to serve with diligence when duty calls. In some churches, some craftspeople practically have to be begged to contribute their skills to the building of the sanctuary. Again, some are money conscious to the point that if their service to the Lord and the Church would not yield any financial gains then they would rather go elsewhere to practice their craftsmanship for money. Beloved in the Lord, in as much as we work for money, we must be considerate in our demands and understand that we are stewards who are first and foremost accountable to the Lord. When it comes to serving and honouring God with our skills and intelligence as craftspeople, pleasing the Lord should be our priority even before financial considerations. If we understand our roles as craftspeople in the house of God and avail ourselves to serve Him, the Lord will continually bless us even in our private businesses and contracts that involve our craftmanship. May Jesus Christ our Saviour find us doing our best in the house of God as craftspeople when He returns the second time. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24) Shalom.

PRAYER

Thank you Lord for the gift of craftspeople in our Churches, we humbly pray that you continue to endow them with skill and intelligence to discharge their craftsmanship towards the infrastructure development of the church. We pray for good health, prosperity and financial gains for our craftspeople who selflessly dedicate their time and skills to the service of the Church. Amen.