Covenant Church

Folks in the country said it. They believed it. Living on a farm every hand that could work made a difference. Lazy folks were toys for the devil。

Soon as a child could carry in little pieces of wood, being a baby was over. By age 6 a boy ought to know how to feed and water the chickens, open the door of the chicken house in the morning and close it at night, and carry in the eggs. Age 9 or 10 a boy could feed the hogs and cattle. By age 12 milking the cows and working with the horse(s) was man stuff.

Girls had their chores. Ask them what they did.

Work came before play. Families did not get up thinking about swimming pools, parks and picnics. Work had to be done. Winter would come. If food was not stored, if preparations were not made for care of animals, then winter would bring suffering.

If there was time after work then swimming in the creek or other fun things could be enjoyed. We did have times of laughter and fun. We did have seasons of community togetherness. But no one was under the illusion that life was supposed to be a party. No one was spoiled and pampered with toys and idle time that made WORK seem secondary. Work was first. Work was essential. Work was the key to survival. Work meant that life could continue. Work was wholesome.

Work was not a selfish endeavor with primary motive of adding to personal wealth and comfort. Work included the sacred principle of believing that our efforts are essential to the well-being of family, friends, and community-including church. The efforts of an individual should bless others.

Persons not willing to work were considered "idle" busybodies, lazy, selfish, and "dead weight" upon the shoulders of those who did work. Persons not willing to work were not respected. Lazy and selfish girls were not sought for marriage by up-and-coming young men. Lazy and selfish young men were not sought for marriage by young women who wanted a responsible husband.

Somewhere we turned things around. Children became our entertainment. Our toys. Our bragging rights. Parents work for children. I have witnessed many a divorce where parents allowed children to be #1, i.e., wife/husband devoted more time and loving acts to children than to each other. Children came to believe that if they lifted a finger to anything called work they should be highly praised and PAID in cold cash. Paid to wash dishes. Paid to keep their room clean. Paid to mow the lawn. Paid to be good. Paid to clean the car. And, once the cash is in the children's hands, the child assumes the right to spend the money as self dictates. No parental consent needed.

If not paying in cash, then parents are responsible for entertaining. Better TV with remote controls for games. iPods, telephones, bicycles, ad infinitum.

Folks grow up. Kids become adults. Unless they deal with childish attitudes they are simply taller and weigh more, but ingrained with concepts of childhood. Work is still thought of as something awful. Drudgery. A necessary evil to get to fun. Something to be timed and when the clock gets to a certain hour...no more work. Play time.

Jesus looked out one day and saw a multitude of needy people. He instructed his disciples to pray for workers. Workers in the eyes of Jesus are those who see the Kingdom of God as being the very reason for existence. Workers who follow Jesus and desire to be like Him love devoting themselves to tasks that fulfill Luke 4:18-19 and Matthew 9:37-38. Just in case you do not look up the scriptures they offer perspective on why Jesus came from heaven to dwell in flesh as a man in a fallen world.

Jesus did not say: "I came to climb Mt. Everest. I came to walk the Appalachian Trail. I came to go around the world in a hot-air balloon." He came to help bruised people, set captives free, open the eyes of the blind...He did have special moments with VACATION and RELAXING. Yet, His driving motive was to WORK for His Father or the "joy of things set before" (Hebrew 12:2). Work finished, an eternity of rewards is ahead.

Now, please, I am not opposed to time off and vacation. I am simply making the argument that even in play time we are not OFF from duty with the Master. And, I am convinced that if we prioritize FUN and IDLE TIME as FIRST we make ourselves quite useFUL for the devil and useLESS for Jesus.

Denying ourselves and taking up our cross includes a work ethic...I suggest that there is no fulfillment of joy or rest like that of having done Our Father's will. Note that Elisha on vacation is thoughtful to his hostess and prophesies what God is going to do for her and her husband (2 Kings4:8-17).

As always, my thoughts to you are to encourage you to think and to pray. Search God's Word for divine instruction. Ask yourself about your own values. How do you perceive work and play? How do you treat your children? Are you modeling the life of Jesus in relation to working for Your Heavenly Father?

Much Love,

Pastor Bare

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13