"Unemployment"

 

“Unemployment”

 

On the first Friday of each month the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the unemployment/jobless rate for the previous month. This is a highly anticipated report which is seen as a major factor in determining the nation’s economic health. But as with most statistics the numbers can be orchestrated to support one’s particular viewpoint.

The Government considers “full employment” (a balance between the work force and available jobs) to be 4.1% to 4.7%. During the COVID crisis the rate rose to around 10% but dropped to “normal” levels once the pandemic subsided. (The highest recorded U.S. rate was 24.7% in 1933 at the height of the Great Depression.) As time goes on the labor market changes with industry’s needs as technology and other factors advance. So job training must adapt to national and international conditions.

Even with “full employment” many people have difficulty finding work. But there’s one place where there’s never a shortage of “job opportunities”: Christ’s church. When a person receives Jesus as his/her Savior it begins a life of growth and service through the Holy Spirit’s empowerment (“…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you….”—Acts 1:8) and gifting (“…Each of you has received a gift….”—1 Peter 4:10, NKJV) to be used “…to serve others….” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). So the “employment rate” in the Body of Christ is intended to be 100%. But what’s the reality?

For years I’ve heard that in the average church 20% of the people do 80% of the ministry. After about 65 years of church involvement vocationally and as a volunteer I cannot dispute this assertion. Think of how the Church (and the world) would benefit if each of us were to take our commitment to follow Christ seriously. It’s trite but true that “no one can do everything but everyone can do something!”

What am I doing to help reduce the “unemployment rate” in my church?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

(For more on this topic see the early posting “Slacklings”.)