Do you ever feel like what you do to serve in your church is small or insignificant? Maybe you do laundry for the church nursery, straighten hymnals, or clean fingerprints off a glass door, and it feels like nobody notices. I’d like to remind you today that every act of service is important to God.

Several months ago, while reading the book of Numbers, I was struck by the careful order God gave to the Levites, the tribe set apart for the service of the Tabernacle. Each branch of that family had specific tasks assigned to care for the dwelling place of God. Buried among the long lists of names and duties is a reminder that God has an order and purpose to all that we do for Him.

After the children of Israel fled Egypt, God gave Moses detailed instructions for assembling the Tabernacle. As they journeyed through the wilderness, God provided a portable dwelling place for His presence. Every part had to be assembled in a precise order—the Holy of Holies, the vail, the inner and outer court, all designed and planned by God.

To care for these tasks, God appointed the tribe of Levi. Levi had three main branches to his family tree: his sons Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. (Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron, was a Kohathite.) I won’t bore you with all the details, but I would encourage you to read Numbers chapters 3 and 4 to see how the duties were assigned.

The Kohathite’s service was “about the most holy things”—the Ark of the testimony, the vail, the table of shewbread, the golden altar and more. On moving day, their responsibility was to cover the furniture and put the staves in. They had to be careful in their work. God had commanded no one was to “touch any holy thing, lest they die.” They carried the sacred furniture on their shoulders. (Numbers 7:9)

The family of Merari were in charge of the framework—the boards, bars, pillars and sockets. They were given four wagons and eight oxen to help bear their load. (Numbers 7:8)

And then came the Gershonites—the curtain bearers. The boys who carried the cords and coverings. An important job, but perhaps a little less visible.

Of course, someone had to handle the holy furniture. Someone had to assemble the walls. But someone also had to care for and fold those curtains.

I can’t help but wonder how each group felt about their assignment. I like to imagine how I might feel if I were in their place. Did the Kohathites struggle with pride because their work seemed more important? Our job is special, don’t you see? If we make one wrong move and touch so much as a leg of that table —poof— God will strike us dead! And you boys and your wagons and oxen, why, we carry all that furniture on our shoulders. We’re stronger and more important than you.

Did the family of Merari like to brag about how the whole Tabernacle might fall apart if it wasn’t for them? Why if we hadn’t kept up with every socket and bar there wouldn’t be a place to worship God!

And what about those Gershonites—did they ever feel that their task was small and insignificant? Aw, all we ever get to do is fold and carry fabric. I’m as strong as one of those Kohath boys, I could carry the table of shewbread once in awhile. Why do I always have to be stuck on curtain duty?

Yet every piece was necessary. Every job was important. Without the curtains, the boards would be exposed. Without the boards, there would be no place to hang the curtains.

In church today, it’s easy to fall into a trap of measuring our value by our visibility. The ones who sing a special, teach a class, or play an instrument seem to carry the “holy things” while others are quietly folding curtains—teaching toddlers, emptying trash, moving stacks of chairs.

But the same God who designed the Tabernacle and assigned duties to each family of the Levites also designed the church. And He sets us in the order wherein He is pleased.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. —1 Corinthians 12:18

We can’t all bear the holy things. We can’t all be responsible for the boards and bars. Someone has to be a Gershonite and fold the curtains.

There is no room for pride and likewise, no reason for discouragement.

Whatever place of service the Lord has for you, He provides strength and grace enough to perform the task, just as He provided the carts and oxen for Merari and Gershon.

Even still, there may be some women reading this who feel even less than a curtain bearer. You may be in a season of life where all you can do is care for an infant, wipe little noses, or clean a home that seems to get messy again the moment you turn your back. Your service may not be in a classroom or a choir loft—it may be in your kitchen and laundry room instead. None of your work is unimportant to the Lord.

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord... —Ephesians 6:7-8

In 1847, missionary Adoniram Judson was married to his third wife, Emily Chubbuck Judson, and she took charge of his five small children. They had not been married a full year when she wrote these lines in her journal—

“January 5. It seems to me as though I do nothing but get up, turn round, and then go to bed again! I expected to...go to work in ‘true apostolic style.’ ...though my work is not what I expected, Thou canst bring great results from little causes. It is all of Thy ordering.

January 10. This taking care of teething babies...is really very odd sort of business... But the person who would do great things well, must practice daily on little ones; and she who would have the assistance of the Almighty in important acts, must be daily and hourly accustomed to consult His will in the minor affairs of life.”

Though her tasks seemed repetitive and mundane, Emily Judson recognized there was something sacred in the small tasks. Her “little causes” were no less valuable than her husband’s preaching. Without her to care for his home and children, Adoniram Judson could not have completed the task God called him to do.

The same is true for us. Every small task can be done in service to Him.

Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. —Colossians 3:23

We may never carry the Ark, but we can carry the cords and curtains. We can serve with a willing heart and do the small tasks that help hold the work together. Every unseen act of faithfulness is part of the same great calling. Whether in our homes or our churches, we can create a place for God to be glorified.

So keep doing the small, mundane tasks.Keep sending small notes of encouragement.Keep baking cookies and rocking babies without applause.

Keep bearing the curtains.

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