Labor in Vain
Hi Church,
As we’ve been winding our way through John 6 (thinking of verse 29 in particular) and in anticipation of Labor Day this coming Monday, I’ve been thinking about work.
In the last few decades, there has been a massive and welcome explosion of attention paid to Christian work. Not special or "sacred" work, but regular old, Monday to Friday work, done by the followers of Jesus. Much of this content has rightly emphasized the holistic nature of God’s kingdom, and that God cares for both “engineers, and engineering” as Dr. Amy Sherman puts it. I hope that we might all grow in the understanding of the value of our work and God’s concern for our various vocations, whatever they might be. A valuable question we might consider for prayer and reflection is “What is Jesus up to in and through my work and workplace?”
Even as we must rightly value and celebrate the gift of our work, we also recognize that our work takes place in a fallen world and is marked by sin. Various idolatries lead us to overwork, or result in exploitative and dehumanizing working conditions. Many in our community are familiar with the reality of underemployment or unfulfilling work. In a broken world, the good gift of work often becomes toil.
That we experience God’s good gift of work in such ways is an occasion for lament, confession, and repentance. We lament for the ways we experience the brokenness of work that is not as it should be. We confess the ways our own sin and worship of vain things contribute to a world of work that is not what God intended. We repent in relation to the ways God calls us to a new and better way in Christ. We look for and long after the day when our work too will be restored in the new heavens and earth. Until that day, we seek to walk in faith, hope, and love, asking the Lord to “establish the work of our hands.”
This Sunday, we’ll take a minute to pray for each of us in our various vacations, that we might be ministers of the Gospel in word and deed. Whether you are in town or not, you might take a moment this weekend to thank God for the good gift of work, yours and others, and for his leading and equipping of you in the work he’s given you to do. Lastly, be sure to take some time to rest, depending on the finished work of Jesus upon the cross.
In Christ,
Peter+
Ps. Neighborhood Groups are kicking off in the coming weeks. Check out details online or in the bulletin! Groups are also open to new participants! We’re excited about offering the new, “Sunday Supper” group option as well. Contact Mother Sarah if you have any questions related to groups. Also, registration for our Parish Retreat this Fall is now open. More details come, but be sure to register!