“Justa”

Have you ever been talking to someone and, after a while, the subject might get around to, “What do you do?”  Often someone will say, “I’m just a factory worker,” or they might say, “I’m just a housewife,” or there is always, “I’m just the guy that cleans the bathrooms,” as if none of these jobs is important.

I remember on the first day that I started in the auto parts business.  I was delivering parts and, on the last stop of the first run, the owner wanted to know why I didn’t deliver his parts first.  I explained that I was given a route and that he was last.  Well, he told me he wanted to be first from now on and I came back with, “I’m just the driver.”  I got a twenty minute speech on how whatever job you have it’s to be the most important thing you do and how no one is better than someone else or a “Justa!”  Now, he was doing this just to yank my chain, with me being the new guy and all, but I have never forgotten the part of being a “Justa.”

A few years back I got a copy of “The Inspirational Bible” with notes by Max Lucado.  I don’t know if you have read any of his books, but I believe that he has a real talent for putting things into everyday speech and making them interesting and funny.

Well, as I was getting ready for the Super Chevy Show in Virginia, I thought that I would preach on two of the lesser known prophets: Amos and Obadiah.  In Max’s introduction to Amos, he speaks on being a “Justa,” which was a lot like the speech I got years ago.  When we say we are just a (you fill in the blank), we are saying we are not as good as whomever.

Amos has quite a few great verses in it.  “Seek good, not evil, that you may live.  Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.” Amos 5:14  But, whenever you have something good to say someone will question your authority to do so.  In Amos’s case it was the priest of Bethel, Amaziah, who asked what gives you the right to speak to us, just who are you?  Amos gave his credentials…Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.  But the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

He said he was a shepherd and, although it might not be an important job to them, he was proud of it as it’s what God gave to him.  And now, God had given him this new task which he was going to do just as well. Never be ashamed of what you do, but do whatever it is to your best, giving God the glory for placing you where you are.  When you do your best for Him, you will have his blessing and He may have you already in mind for some greater task.

Most of us will not be a John Force or a Tony Schumacher or anyone else who is in the spotlight today.  Most of us are just what we are.  But that doesn’t mean that we can’t be the best at what we do. Let’s not judge ourselves by others. Let us be pleasing to God.  And when we are faithful in the little things, God will entrust us with greater things. We are not “Justas”…we are servants of the Most High God.

Dan Laterza