It’s that time of year again where those September planning meetings start turning into nails hammered into sets, stringing together the extra input channels we bought that new console for in the first place, and running DMX to places we know were never intended to have DMX run to. But hey, anything goes for kid’s pageant and Christmas Eve, right? Even though this is a time of celebration that brings huge satisfaction after each successful event, we know as tech teams that it also means longer hours, more labor, an all-hands-on-deck volunteer schedule, and missing out on participating in our own Christmas events because we are working other people’s. The Christmas season is an exciting but exhausting one. As we put in the extra effort to prepare our sanctuaries for services, let us not forget to prepare our hearts as well. Keeping the right focus is the only way to come out of the holiday season spiritually and physically healthy.
Proverbs 11:25 states that “whoever brings a blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will be watered.” On the surface, this verse reads similar to Acts 20:35: “It’s better [more blessed] to give than to receive.” But there is a lot more going on here that applies theologically to what we all do as church techs. This verse is one of the few verses that has multiple contrasting translations as compared to the ESV above. The principal theme is that it is a future enrichment; what we do now brings out a future reward. Some translations note that it is the one who is generous who will prosper (NIV/NASB). The idea is that when the task is performed, it is to be done without concern of the immediate reward, but brings/promises future enrichment. The second half literally states that by giving someone a drink of water, you will be given a drink of water. The sense again is that when you provide for others, you will receive in return. In both instances, the reward comes because the act is done unselfishly and unprovoked.
How many times have we been completely spent, but we push through, and then all of a sudden you hear an amazing testimony from a tech team member saying how your ministry has changed their lives?
As New Testament Christians, we often assume that it is ok to suffer now and neglect your health for the sake of the Christmas production because our true reward is in heaven. And indeed, this verse tells us that the reward is not instant, but future. It is in receipt of an act of service. That sounds great but does not help that our wives miss us around during the month of December, our health deteriorates, and our children don’t get the same parental influence as a traditional 9–to–5 family may have. Proverbs 11:25 tells us that when we come into the Christmas season with the sole desire to serve the church—both our church leadership and our congregation—every time we give them a glass of water, whether it be in the form of a few extra lighting cues, happily working a couple extra service times, or making sure that the audio is crystal clear for all the visiting guests to concisely hear the gospel message, we will be given our own glass of water. That water will be in the form of a spiritual blessing that changes us physically.
As tech leaders, the way we ask Christ for what we need is though our attitude and heart in service to him. When we enrich the congregation by allowing the joy of Christ to be presented through audio, video, and lighting, Christ rewards us in ways only he can.
So, what am I saying? I am saying that the reward is not only the future stored up in heaven, but it is also future here on earth. In heaven, our reward is spiritual, but the drink of water is a physical fulfilling in this life. How many times have we all been completely spent, but we push through, and then all of a sudden you hear an amazing testimony from a tech team member saying how your ministry has changed their lives? Those only come after we have invested generously and unselfishly in others. Those moments are not solely feel-good moments, but life changing ones. They are the ones that make you go the extra mile when you get home to show your spouse you miss them and love them; those moments are the ones that do not only demonstrate the change in others, they change you. That is what the Christmas season is about. God invested in us through delivering Christ to humanity and we display our recognition of that by delivering the message of Christ to others.
As tech leaders, the way we ask Christ for what we need and receive our own glass of water is though our attitude and heart in service to him. When we enrich the congregation by allowing the joy of Christ to be presented through audio, video, and lighting, Christ waters us in ways only he can. Preparing our hearts for Christmas is preparing for life change in others and ourselves.
