The Nail

[Judy Harder]

THE NAIL


As the story goes, they built a new church building and people came from far
and wide to see it. They admired its beauty! Up on the roof, a little nail
heard the people praising everything about the lovely structure-except the
nail! No one even knew he was there, and he became angry and jealous.


"If I am that insignificant, nobody will miss me if I quit!" So the nail
then released its hold, slid down the roof, and fell in the mud.


That night it rained and rained. Soon, the shingle that had no nail blew
away, and the roof began to leak. The water streaked the walls and the
beautiful murals. The plaster began to fall, the carpet was stained, and the
pulpit Bible was ruined by water. All this because a little nail decided to
quit!


But what of the nail? While holding the shingle, it was obscure but it was
also useful. Buried in the mud it was just as obscure, but now it was
useless and would soon be eaten up by rust!


The moral of the story-EVERY MEMBER IS IMPORTANT TO THE CHURCH! You may,
like the nail, feel obscure at times, but just like the nail, your absence
is felt. When you are not present for worship, in some way the body of
Christ hurts. We are ALL a part of the Lord's ministry.


-- Author Unknown