Today, we’re looking at the third (and final) key to creating an elite difference, where love is what separates us from the rest of the world. This key is being a willing worker. In order for our love to be a beacon light to others, we have to be willing workers (or, active participants). To help illustrate this, I’m going to use a study that was conducted for the business world and apply it to us.

Many of you have probably heard of Gallup before. Those are the folks who conduct a lot of polling, and we hear the name a lot on the news around election time. Gallup also does other types of polling and human studies, and one that they’ve done in the last 11 years has measured the engagement of American workers. They found that all employees fall into one of three categories:

Engaged: Highly involved in and enthusiastic about their work and their workplace. They “own” it, drive performance and innovation, and help move the organization forward.

Not Engaged: Unattached to their work and company. Their engagement needs are not being fully met. They put their time in and do the job, but there is no energy or passion in their work.

Actively Disengaged: These folks are not just unhappy at work; they are resentful that their needs are not being met and acting out their unhappiness. Every day they are trying to undermine what their engaged colleagues accomplish.

Now let’s apply this to the membership of the church.

Engaged (The Willing Workers): Highly involved in and enthusiastic in sharing their love for mankind and growing God’s kingdom here on earth. They own their work, whatever it may be (Sunday School teacher, MBA President, Branch Auditor, GMBA YIA Coordinator, Presiding Elder, NAOC Chairperson, etc.), and help move the Church forward. They provide assistance wherever they can.

Not Engaged: Come to church, interact on occasion, “put their time in.” Will help when asked but may not really be into it. Any jobs they do will get done, but nothing more. 

Actively Disengaged: Disgruntled with the church, don’t agree with certain actions, and rather than “agreeing to disagree,” become disagreeable. For whatever reason, they undermine what the church is working on.

Gallup found that American workers were split among the three categories as follows:

• 33% Engaged
• 51% Not Engaged
• 16% Actively Disengaged

I don’t know what the percentages would be for the church’s membership. But I’ll ask you what I ask my trainees. Ask yourself what category you fall into. Ask yourself if you are happy where you are, and more importantly, is the Lord happy where you are? If you answer no, then take action. Start praying about it and talk to the ministry. As I tell my classes, only you control you. No one else can make you do anything. You decide what actions you are going to take, even if that means no action at all. As the song states, “You must open the door.”

If you are Engaged, which is where I hope we all want to be, then great! Keep doing what you’re doing. Engaged workers take the church forward, and they show God’s love to all those they meet. Maintain that standard and keep pushing it forward. The only way to stay on the mountaintop is to keep on working hard. The moment we slow down is the moment we slide down and must work even harder to get back to where we were.

In summary, there are three things that need to be done to create our elite difference, which is our love:

• Recognizing the opportunity to show love to someone—and acting on that opportunity.
• Be ELITE
  • Engaged Membership
  • Love One Another
  • Invest in Relationships
  • Tailored Services
  • Elevated Meetings
• Be a Willing Worker

If we accomplish these three things, our love will shine bright. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Let’s let our love shine so that all may see the difference that The Church of Jesus Christ can make in the hearts and souls of mankind!

Editor’s Note: This concludes Brother Rich’s series on Showing Our Love. If you enjoyed this “training,” leave a comment for Brother Rich, and tell him your biggest takeaways!

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.