“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4
All I know is that night is coming pretty fast for me now that I am 93 years old. I want to do as much as I can before it gets dark, but “as much as I can” is not much these days. I have a little RBS in the “old folks home” where I live, and I am reorganizing the RBS into Sunday school lessons for the churches in Africa, and I manage the RJBF that sends out Bible commentaries along with the Sunday school lessons, but a younger person could do what I do in half the time it takes me. I am willing but not able. What concerns me these days is that there are too many people who are able but not willing. I’m speaking about doing the work of the Lord. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). Why is that? Why do Americans these days not send out missionaries or involve themselves in mercy ministries? I recently heard a missionary to Japan speak and he told us that in Japan there is only one Christian missionary for every 78,000 people. No wonder there are so few Christians in Japan. In Japan the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
But what about mercy ministries like Samaritans’ Purse or Mercy Ship that take less of your life than being a full-time missionary to Japan or Africa? There are many Christian mercy ministries in the United States today. But what about those works that are not organized? Could you consider taking in foster children or cooking food to take to the sick or visiting nursing homes?
There are many “works” that we can do in the name of the Lord. But the laborers are few. Why is that?
I believe one reason is because there are many people who are not willing to work at all! If the government, or their parents, or somebody else will subsidize them, then why should they work? Why? Because God expects us to work. God gave us work to do way back in Genesis. God created us to “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth” (Genesis1:26). Exercising dominion over all the animals in the world takes work. Just ask anyone who raises cattle or chickens.
Furthermore, God “took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Planting orchards and raising vegetables sounds like work to me.
If God wants us to work, why do we not work? Perhaps it is because we do not know that one of the greatest gifts God has given us is the gift of work. Work is satisfying. Unhappy people are the bored ones who are not doing anything productive. Work gives a person a sense of purpose. I am familiar with some young people today who do not understand the value of work because their parents did not teach them nor model a work ethic for them. How can children understand work when their parents (or usually one parent) are on welfare? It’s interesting that in Genesis God did not suggest that mankind should work. He commanded it! Furthermore, Paul said, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).
Finally, Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34).
That is what I want to do. I want to do God’s will for me and accomplish the work he has for me to do in the short time I have left in this life.
What work does the Lord have for you to accomplish at your age? If you do it, it will feed your soul.
I was raised in a large family with a solid work ethic, and now that I am 70, I am still very busy. I work at a local library, 2-5 days a week, and if anyone thinks that that is a tranquil job, with time to read all those books between patrons, think again. I lift heavy book bins, engage with the patrons, which include screaming or rude children. Yesterday I was in the high-ceilinged foyer on a 12-ft ladder hanging giant snowflakes, stretching as far as I safely could. On the weekend, I replaced a broken faucet in my kitchen with a new pull-out spray faucet that required me to twist like a pretzel under the sink to remove an old faucet that didn't want to be disturbed. (But I saved $150 that a plumber would have charged me). I lead two Bible Studies and mentor a young couple. I walk two dogs for my working granddaughter, just so I have a link to relate to her - and now the lonely man at the library who just got a new puppy, and came on the day I work just so he could show her to me. Many of these things are outside of my comfort zone, as I'm a Mary in a world that believes being a Martha is the best way. But I take things one at a time as they come, and ask the Lord to help me remove that nut that won't budge and to not fall off this ladder, and may the giant snowflakes stay where I hung them. And please, Lord, help me to love that man who comes into the library who is tattered and toothless and known to use the library's computers to look at porn. He loves to ogle the women patrons and he's so disgusting I can hardly look at him. But I notice a softening in my heart toward him and he toward me. I relay all of these things simply to show that walking in the Spirit is not a dull trodding. The Spirit blows where He wills, and no day is the same as the one before it. And if one pays attention, one will see Him who is high and lifted up and beautiful beyond words. Being His is the greatest of all privilege, and it brings me to tears at every thought of Him loving me. With my eyes on Him and my heart fully His, I know my life will continue to be a mix of adventure and rest until He takes me home. But the true work behind it all is to show others how wonderful He is with affirming words or actions. His glory is to be sought, and when it is sought above all things, life will be neither boring nor unfulfilling.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad to read your blogs, Rosemary. Although the busyness God has called you to is far different from my busyness, it is encouraging to watch you walk ahead of us, still working, still interested in others and always and forever fully His. May God bless you today as you contemplate the glory of being His.
You do indeed encourage me - more than just a little. You are on the trail just ahead of me, and it seems I hear you saying by your life, "Come on! Just a little further, and you can finish triumphantly if your eyes remain on the One who put this particular path before you."
DeleteAnd yes, I do live alone. I lost my husband 11 years ago, and as you said, I have more time to spend with the Lord, although this has always been my priority.
I am so glad you triumphed over covid. We still need you here. Keep pressing on. I recently issued a library card to a woman who was 100 years old. So you have a way to go yet. But you're at 93%, and you know how much time flies the older we get. You'll get to rest soon enough! Hang in there!