When I worked as the Director of Ops for Mercer University Basketball, we would get a new group of Graduate Assistants (GA’s) each August. These were guys who had aspirations to be college coaches. They would come to Mercer and serve as GA’s (for two years) while they earned their Master’s degree. Each new batch of GA’s, would ask me the same questions about Coach Hoffman…How Coach liked things to be done, how to stay out of his doghouse, etc.
 
In the process of answering I always included this idea: Coach was going to ask them to do things that they would think were below their position, but He would also include them things that were above their paygrade.
 
A meaningful reflection of Jesus happens as we participate as servants.
 
Coach Hoffman sought to establish and conduct a culture of service, because that’s the model Jesus utilized. Everyone was expected to help meet the need and task at hand, regardless of position as player, coach, manager or GA.
 
2 Thoughts about the God-Given Tasks at Hand
 
1. There is nothing that is “below” you.
As followers of Jesus, we are bondservants, which means we exist for the pleasure, purpose, and plan of the master. At the end of the day, it’s not about what the servant wants, but what the master wants. Fortunately for us, we serve a heavenly master who is good, loving, and compassionate to his children. Any task Jesus lays before us is better than we deserve.
 
2. Everything Jesus asks you to do is above your paygrade.
It is the purpose and not the task that determines the importance of the task. Anything Jesus asks you to do is important because Jesus asked you to do it. We get bogged down in the mire of tasks we feel lack importance and notoriety. If Jesus lays it before you, it’s on purpose. If Jesus asks you to do it, He’s watching. There no higher notoriety than the attention of Jesus.
 
2a. Faithfully attacking the simple tasks tends to lead to larger responsibilities.
When God knows we will be faithful and obedient, He leads us into deeper waters. There are often lessons to be learned in the “simple” tasks that will be required for the “larger” responsibilities.
 
As you step into next this week, attack the tasks before you with excitement because they hold importance within the mission of Jesus.
 
Keep Reflecting Jesus!