A biblical reflection on faithful coworkers, shared leadership, discipleship, and supporting one another in ministry, family, and everyday life.
By Paul Zhang (张崇助)
No One Fulfills a Great Calling Alone
By Paul Zhang (张崇助)
As we journey through life, we often admire people who accomplish extraordinary things.
We admire Moses for leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Paul for his courage in taking the gospel to distant lands, and leaders who seem capable of carrying great responsibilities on their own.
Yet when we read the Bible carefully, we discover a truth that is both profound and easily overlooked:
Behind many great figures stands a group of faithful coworkers whose contributions may never receive public recognition.
Without Aaron and Hur, Moses' weary hands would have fallen. Without Barnabas' acceptance and encouragement, Paul's early ministry might have faced even greater obstacles. And although Jesus needed no human assistance to accomplish what only he could do, he deliberately called and trained twelve disciples to participate in the mission he entrusted to his followers.
This teaches us a vital principle:
God may call an individual, but he often works through a community to fulfill his purposes.
No matter how capable we are, our strength has limits. No matter how gifted we may be, none of us possesses every gift.
Whether in our families, our churches, or society at large, lasting work depends upon people supporting and complementing one another.
Being coworkers is more than sharing tasks. It is sharing life, responsibility, and purpose.
An ancient Chinese saying, drawn from Han Yu's essay On Horses, declares:
“Only when there is a discerning horseman can a thousand-mile horse be recognized. Such horses are common; discerning horsemen are rare.”
A gifted person may remain unnoticed for years if no one is willing to recognize, encourage, welcome, and nurture that gift.
In the Bible, Barnabas is a remarkable example of such a person.
We know the apostle Paul as one of the great missionaries of the early church. His letters form a substantial part of the New Testament, and his missionary journeys profoundly shaped the history of Christianity.
But have we ever asked what Paul's early ministry might have looked like without Barnabas?
After Paul's conversion, he faced an awkward and painful situation. Because he had previously persecuted the church, the believers in Jerusalem feared him and struggled to believe that his conversion was genuine.
At that critical moment, Barnabas stepped forward.
Acts 9:27 tells us that Barnabas took Paul and brought him to the apostles.
It was a simple act with far-reaching consequences.
When others were suspicious, Barnabas was willing to listen. When others hesitated to welcome Paul, Barnabas was willing to speak on his behalf.
Later, when the church in Antioch was growing, Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and brought him to Antioch, where they taught the church together (Acts 11:25–26).
This was more than a moment of kindness. It was a deliberate act of recognition, encouragement, and partnership.
Barnabas saw not only who Paul had been, but also what God might accomplish through him.
Even more moving is the way Barnabas later gave John Mark another opportunity.
Mark had left the missionary team during an earlier journey. Because of that departure, Paul was unwilling to take him again. The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas became so sharp that they separated, and Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus.
Years later, however, Paul asked Timothy to bring Mark, explaining that Mark was useful to him in ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).
The man who had once been considered unsuitable for another journey eventually became a valued coworker.
We should not attribute every aspect of Mark's growth to Barnabas. Nevertheless, Barnabas' willingness to give him another opportunity is unmistakable.
What a precious quality in a leader!
Today, in both the church and society, we need people like Barnabas.
A truly great leader is measured not only by what he or she accomplishes personally, but also by the people he or she recognizes, equips, and helps to flourish.
The greatest achievement is not simply becoming a strong tree yourself, but helping many young trees grow and flourish.
Unfortunately, some people appreciate talent only as long as it does not surpass their own. They welcome assistance but hesitate to give others room to grow. They fear losing influence, recognition, or position.
Barnabas shows us a better way.
Christian coworkers are not called to compete for importance. We are called to build one another up.
Another person's growth need not diminish our own significance. In God's kingdom, their flourishing can become our joy.
Exodus 17 describes an extraordinary battle between Israel and the Amalekites.
Joshua led the army into battle while Moses stood on a hill holding the staff of God.
As Exodus 17:11 recounts, when Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.
It is a striking scene.
Below, soldiers fought on the battlefield. Above, Moses stood with uplifted hands, depending upon God.
But Moses was still human.
His arms grew tired. His body had limits. His strength could not last indefinitely.
So Aaron and Hur brought a stone for Moses to sit on. One stood on his right and the other on his left, supporting his hands until sunset (Exodus 17:12).
Israel ultimately prevailed.
This passage has always deeply moved me.
We naturally focus on Moses because he was the leader God had chosen. But what would that day have looked like without Aaron and Hur?
Moses had faith, but he also experienced fatigue. He had a calling, but he also had limitations.
Aaron and Hur did not occupy the most visible position. They were not celebrated as warriors on the battlefield. Scripture does not record an inspiring speech from either of them at that moment.
They simply stood beside Moses and held up his hands.
Yet their quiet service was an essential part of the story.
Sometimes the most important coworker is not the person speaking at the front, but the person quietly holding up that leader's weary hands.
The same is true in the church today.
A pastor may prepare sermons, visit families, care for the sick, teach Scripture, handle administration, and carry pressures that others rarely see.
Pastors, too, grow tired. They can become discouraged. They experience weakness.
If every responsibility rests on one pastor's shoulders, even the most devoted pastor will struggle to sustain the work over time.
What the church needs in those moments is not more criticism, but more people willing to help.
Some can lead worship. Others can teach children, visit the sick, manage finances, clean the building, or faithfully pray behind the scenes.
These tasks may attract less attention than preaching, but they are no less valuable.
A healthy church is not built by one pair of hands. It grows as believers serve together through God's grace.
We must remember:
Moses needed others to support his hands. So does every person who carries responsibility today.
If anyone could have worked entirely on his own, it was Jesus Christ.
He had authority to heal the sick, calm storms, and raise the dead.
Yet Jesus did not choose to carry out his earthly ministry without involving others.
He called twelve disciples.
Mark 3:14 explains that Jesus appointed the twelve so that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.
Notice these two purposes:
First, they were to be with him.
Second, they were to be sent out.
This reveals something essential about discipleship. Jesus was not merely recruiting workers to complete tasks. He was forming lives and preparing people to carry the mission forward.
Jesus did not need the disciples to make up for any deficiency in his own power. He called them according to his purpose, inviting ordinary people to participate in God's redemptive work.
The twelve were not the most impressive people by worldly standards.
Some were fishermen. One had been a tax collector. They had different personalities, weaknesses, and struggles.
Peter denied Jesus three times. Thomas doubted the resurrection. The disciples even argued about which of them was the greatest.
Yet Jesus did not abandon them because they were imperfect.
He taught them, walked with them, corrected them, and gave them opportunities to serve.
After his resurrection, he commissioned them to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
Through successive generations of disciples, the gospel continued to spread.
This raises an important question for the church today:
Are we merely training people to help us accomplish our tasks, or are we preparing disciples who can carry God's mission into the future?
There is a profound difference.
The first approach can make a ministry dependent upon a single leader. The second helps the mission continue beyond that leader.
A healthy church should not depend forever upon a handful of individuals. It should continually identify, equip, and send out new coworkers.
Today's coworker may become tomorrow's leader. Someone receiving encouragement today may one day encourage and train others.
That is the heart of disciple-making.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses a vivid image to describe the relationships among believers.
He compares the church to a human body.
The body has many parts, each with a distinct function.
The eye cannot tell the hand that it is unnecessary. Nor can the head tell the feet that they are not needed.
A healthy body depends on its members functioning together.
Paul makes the remarkable point that the parts of the body that seem weaker are indispensable (1 Corinthians 12:22).
This is a truth we urgently need to recover.
In everyday life, people are often valued according to ability, position, education, wealth, or public speaking skills.
But in the body of Christ, every member has value given by God.
Some are gifted in preaching; others in administration. Some communicate well; others are skilled at carrying plans into action. Some serve visibly; others serve faithfully without recognition.
These gifts are not given for comparison or competition. They are given for mutual service.
Ephesians 4:16 describes the body growing as its parts are joined together and each part does its work, building itself up in love.
That is the picture of a healthy church.
Not everyone performs the same task, but everyone faithfully fulfills a role.
Not everyone stands at the front, but everyone can contribute to the shared mission.
True unity does not mean that everyone is identical. It means that different people willingly move toward the same purpose.
Of course, coworkers will sometimes disagree. Personalities differ. Misunderstandings happen. Even Paul and Barnabas experienced serious conflict.
Working together does not mean the absence of tension. It means learning to practice humility, communication, forgiveness, and mutual respect.
A mature team is not one in which nobody disagrees. It is one that learns to address disagreements in truth and love.
The importance of coworkers is not limited to the church. It reaches into every part of our lives.
Consider the family first.
Marriage is one of the deepest forms of partnership.
In Genesis 2:18, God declares that it is not good for the man to be alone and that he will make a helper suitable for him.
The word helper does not imply that one spouse is inferior to the other or that a wife is merely an assistant to her husband.
Biblical marriage calls husband and wife to commitment, mutual support, and shared responsibility.
Each brings gifts and responsibilities into the relationship. Through love and respect, they can build a stable home together.
Sometimes the greatest danger to a family is not financial hardship but the loss of unity between husband and wife.
One person struggles to move forward while the other constantly undermines the effort. One tries to build while the other only complains.
Even material comfort cannot guarantee peace in such a home.
But when husband and wife are united, they can encourage one another and face life's pressures together, even in difficult circumstances.
Now consider society.
Modern life involves increasingly specialized work. Almost no significant undertaking can be completed entirely by one person.
A school depends upon teachers, administrators, and parents. A hospital depends upon physicians, nurses, technicians, and support staff. A business depends upon people with different areas of expertise.
Even publishing an article, organizing a gathering, or preparing a meal may involve the labor of many people.
Much of the convenience we enjoy is the fruit of countless individuals working together.
A wise person therefore learns not only to develop personal strengths, but also to appreciate the strengths of others.
Such a person knows when to lead and when to support, when to speak and when to listen.
Maturity is revealed not only in our ability to work independently, but also in our ability to work well with people who are different from us.
We often assume that the most important quality in a coworker is competence.
Competence certainly matters.
But through years of ministry, I have increasingly come to recognize that something matters even more: the willingness to work in unity with others.
A talented but arrogant person may become a burden to the team. Someone with fewer visible gifts but a faithful heart may become an extraordinary blessing.
The strength of a team is not simply the sum of individual abilities. It also depends upon trust between people.
Faithful coworkers need several essential qualities.
Humility: recognizing that we cannot do everything and being willing to receive help.
Appreciation: recognizing others' gifts without envy and making room for them to grow.
Responsibility: stepping forward in times of difficulty rather than rushing to shift blame.
Faithfulness: serving wholeheartedly even when our work goes unnoticed, knowing that ultimately we serve God.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us that two are better than one because they receive a good return for their labor, and when one falls, the other can help that person up.
What simple yet profound wisdom!
Life is a long journey. None of us can promise to remain strong at every moment.
Today, you may be Aaron or Hur, supporting someone else. Tomorrow, you may be Moses, needing others to support you.
Today, you may be Barnabas, recognizing someone else's potential. Tomorrow, you may need another person to open a door for you.
We must therefore learn both to become a source of help and to receive help with humility.
When we look back over the biblical story, a consistent pattern emerges.
Moses needed Aaron and Hur. Paul benefited from Barnabas' encouragement. Mark received another opportunity to grow and serve.
Jesus called disciples to participate in the mission of the gospel. The early church grew as believers with different gifts served together.
These stories remind us that God cares not only about what an individual accomplishes, but also about how his people build one another up in love and fulfill the mission entrusted to them.
We live in an age that places enormous emphasis on individual achievement.
People admire heroes, celebrate powerful leaders, and applaud those who stand in the spotlight.
But behind almost every visible achievement are people whose sacrifices may never be publicly acknowledged.
Behind a faithful pastor may stand a congregation that prays with perseverance.
Behind a loving family may stand years of patience and mutual forgiveness between husband and wife.
Behind a successful undertaking may stand countless acts of labor and sacrifice that few people ever notice.
So when we achieve something, let us remember those who helped us.
When we recognize gifts in others, let us not withhold encouragement.
When someone is exhausted, let us not merely stand aside and criticize. Let us extend our hands.
When younger believers need to grow, let us not demand instant maturity. Let us offer time, opportunity, and companionship.
A truly great coworker does not insist that everyone revolve around one person. A great coworker helps each person use the gifts God has given in the place where God has called them to serve.
One person can light a lamp. A community can illuminate a road.
One person can carry a responsibility. A united community can sustain a mission across generations.
May we become people like Barnabas, able to recognize potential; like Aaron and Hur, willing to support weary hands; and like faithful disciples, ready to be equipped and to serve.
I want to close with this thought:
An individual's success may display personal ability; the unity of God's people can display God's glory.
Coworkers matter.
Coworkers matter deeply.
Coworkers truly matter.
We are not called to run alone, but to walk together. We are not called merely to build our own achievements, but to build one another up in Christ.
“For we are co-workers in God's service.” — 1 Corinthians 3:9 (NIV)
Paul Zhang (张崇助)
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA · October 26, 2026
Translation note: Originally written in Chinese by the author. English translation and language editing were assisted by AI; the ideas, biblical reflections, and conclusions are the author's own.
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