By Michael E. Brooks

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Romans 12:3

Not many of us are gifted as headline stars. That is not surprising, considering how few "first chairs" exist in this world. In an orchestra, the top billing is given to the first chair of each instrument. This is the best player of that instrument in the group. But there can by definition be only one per orchestra, and there are not that many orchestras in this world. So too, Biblical history records very few Davids or Peters or Pauls. Those few were wonderful, and God accomplished much through them, but God is not dependent upon a star for His work to be done.

Far more common in history, both secular and sacred, have been the "back-up musicians." They provide the support needed for the star to shine. They supply the harmony that fills in the sound and helps the lead musician's part be even more beautiful.

In non-musical terms, these are the people who make the arrangements, do the busy work, and enable the vast details of everyday ministry to be accomplished. The Bible is full of such figures, from Aaron and Hur "holding up Moses' hands" (Exodus 17:12), to the "other members" of Paul's missionary teams.

One such figure was Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe and assistant. Jeremiah spent much of his life under house arrest, with greatly restricted movement. Baruch not only wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies, he also went into the city and read them to the people.

"Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading from the book the words of the Lord in the Lord's house" (Jeremiah 36:8).

The second Major Prophet of the Old Testament is called "Jeremiah," not "Baruch." It was Jeremiah who was inspired and called to be a prophet. It was Jeremiah who spoke God's word and who ministered to God's people. But without Baruch, how much would the people have heard? Without Baruch (or someone like him) would we have Jeremiah's words today? His role may have been secondary to Jeremiah's, but it was certainly not unimportant.

My work emphasizes the importance of assistants. I plan campaigns months in advance, into areas thousands of miles away. I cannot attend to the many small details needed to make the work come together successfully. But there are many local brothers and sisters who make those arrangements. Their names don't go up on the banners as the speaker, but their contribution is at least as significant as mine. None of us can serve alone. We all need the help of others. One of my favorite statements about the church is,

... the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16).

There are many diverse parts to a body, with each having a particular role to play. The body is most healthy and effective when every part does what it is designed to do. So it is with the Church.

There are many Baruchs today in the world and in the Church. Secretary, executive assistant, intern, apprentice, and many other titles are simply other ways to spell "helper."

The vast majority of us are helpers, not soloists. And that is just fine. I am no musician, but one instrument I can certainly learn to play is "second fiddle." Baruch is a good model from which to learn. Put simply, to play that instrument one simply: (1) does as he is commanded and (2) remains faithful to his appointed role.

God gives us our instructions. Ours is simply to obey his word. God assigned to Jeremiah the role of inspired prophet, and to Baruch that of scribe and reader. Each used the gift (ministry) God had given effectively.

May we be as faithful in using our gifts as these Old Testament characters were in using theirs.

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