Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 ESV
Rev. Dwight Yoo
One of the ways we can be a blessing is through our work. Work takes up to a third of our lives. Our faith should connect to our work. What we hear on Sunday needs to connect to what we do on Monday through Friday.
Purpose of work
Paul was writing to a very young church. It was being persecuted. He commends them in their brotherly love. They were not a wealthy congregation, but they were generous. Paul asked them to live quiet lives, mind they're own affairs, work with their hands, and continue showing brotherly love. Why? That's such a strange phrasing. Some of the congregation believed that Jesus' return was imminent. So much so that they stopped working and started depending on others to meet their daily needs. How does that apply to our current life and times?
We see work individually. They are a way to provide for us and our families. But in the grand scheme of things, our work provides for others. God uses our jobs to provide everyone their daily bread. He uses the farmer, the mill worker, & the baker. All kinds of work are sacred and have dignity and worth.
We tend to raise up those who are white collar and look down on those who are blue collar. But in the eyes of God, both are sacred. Both doctors and surgeons as well as the janitor who keeps the hospitals sterile are doing important work. Jesus showed by example in this as well. He was a carpenter as well as a public intellectual figure. He elevated both manual and mental work.
Power of work
There was a system called patronage at work at the church. People would raise up and hype up powerful and influential figures. It wasn't paid, but it gave them a chance to influence people of power. But Paul told them to live quiet lives instead. Paul was telling them to lift up ordinary faithfulness. Don't get caught up on the big and spectacular to miss out on the everyday diligence. We are called to approach our work no matter how menial as a place for excellence.
Power for work
Paul urges them the live quietly. He tells them to be ambitious to live quiet lives. Have them right ambition. We are called to work, at the beginning, before sin entered into the world. We are to work to bless those around us.
Our measure of worth is not based on our performance at work. To do so is exhausting and soul crushing. But maybe we do not struggle with that. Many work is just something to be beared with so we can do what we want on our weekends. That too is soul crushing. We were not made to just stuff ourselves with pleasure. It makes our lives feel meaningless. We can only find true freedom in Jesus.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."- Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
It us only in working under Jesus' lordship that we can be free from being crushed by performance anxiety and the emptiness of living for pleasure.
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