What Is Your Niche?

When I was in Bible College, we would often get asked what our “life verse” was. In retrospect it was really kind of silly, nay, almost pointless. People would scour the Bible for that “perfect verse” that would define then, set them apart. Proverbs 3:5-6 was one of the most used. Ya, like you could put a whole life into one verse. Even Jesus needed two commandments to sum it all up. We’re gonna need a lot more Scripture than that.  

Enter, my friend Jim. He would unceremoniously volunteer his life verse to anyone who ask. It was 1 Chronicles 26:18, “At Parbar westward, four at the causeway and two at Parbar” (KJV). Now that’s a show stopper! Incidentally, It is often touted as one of the most obscure verses in Scripture. It is found in the middle of the area designations for the porters (gatekeepers) during King David’s reign. No one seems to know what or where Parbar refers to. It is often translated “court” in other translations like the NIV.

So what’s the big deal? Why is it even there? It shows us the importance of the individual. Each porter had a place and a certain job to do. On the surface it doesn’t seem like much. Well, that’s until someone doesn’t do their given job. Then it could be catastrophic. In war, just one weak spot could spell disaster.

In Biology we talk about habitats and niches. A habitat is where an organism lives. It could be in a tree, down a hole, under a rock, or even in the water. For the Christian, habitat is merely a location. Our Great Commission is valid anywhere we go. It’s our niche that is vitally important. A niche is basically our job or jobs in our habitat. You can even fulfil several niches concurrently. I am a father, a grandfather, a son, a brother, a husband and a teacher all at the same time. The important thing is that I do the best job I can at whatever I do.  It doesn’t matter whether you’re a pastor, a music leader, a mom, a dad, a brother, or even that favorite aunt from Toledo. God has a plan for each of us. Big or small, our duty is to be faithful.  Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV). Are you fulfilling your niche or just occupying your habitat? Remember, there is no such thing as a small job in God’s Kingdom. All He asks is that you faithfully do your best.