The Extra
I was watching my favorite TV show when God decided to speak to me. He pointed out how many extras there were in a particular scene that I was watching and how without the extras, the scene wouldn’t be complete. In fact, without the extras, it would’ve been impossible for the lead actors to do their job. Although the extras in a movie seem insignificant and are barely worth mentioning as the credits roll, they are a huge part of production.
A lot of people wouldn’t like being casted as an extra due to the feeling of being inferior and unimportant. All extras get to do is stand around and fill in a scene. Most of them don’t even get a talking part. But just picture a scene where the lead actor is in a busy restaurant, waiting to be served. If there weren’t any extras, who’d serve the lead? If there weren’t any extras, who’d fill the empty seats? It would just be an empty room with one person sitting at a table doing absolutely nothing.
Today, us Christians feel as if we are an extra in a movie. We see others get blessings that we feel we deserve. We have small roles in our church and envy others who we think are more important. We are jealous of those with the same talents but are getting recognized more. As a result, we’ve learned to not be happy in our currents roles. It applies even outside of the church. We even feel inferior in our own homes and crave to feel significant. Well, God says each and every one of us has a role that is important.
1 Corinthians 12:14-23 - For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor…
No role in life is a minor role, because each role works together for God’s purpose. You may be a maid, work at McDonalds, be an unappreciated house wife, play the tambourine at church when you wish you were the drummer, or work for a boss who constantly belittles your efforts. Even then, your role is important, in fact, God cherishes your role even more. If you are just the ear on a body, aren’t you important? The body wouldn’t know the sound of music, or the voice of God. Everything we are is important to God, down to very role we take on. Instead of looking down on yourself and coveting another person’s position, praise God for what He has given you and do your best in that role. If an extra works hard, they may become the lead. So should we take serious our roles in the kingdom of God and work hard, that God may bless us with more.
Psalm 128:2 - You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
So in every work, work as if you are working for God, not man. Work as if you are the lead in the movie, knowing your role is just as important. And lastly, thank God for that role, knowing it holds importance in His eyes. When the time comes, the Lord will move you into a different position, but learn what is needed to be learned while you wait.
