Labor Day is coming up on September 3, and I wanted to devote my message this weekend to the meaning of work.
We all do various types of work throughout our lives. Some of us get paid for what we do. Some of us do work on a volunteer basis. Some of us may do the work of a homemaker. At times, we might feel our work to be a burden or we might feel that there is no significance in what we do or we might derive great satisfaction in what we do.
The writer of Ecclesiastes brings us these words: “It is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.” (Eccl. 3:13) Notice that our work is a gift. It is a way to give meaning to our existence. God wants us to enjoy what we do.
I would like you to consider that what is most important in any kind of work that we do is this: How is it that we do our work? In what spirit is it done? That can make all the difference in the world to us and also to others with whom we interact. Whether you are a waitress or the CEO of a company, how you do your work will have consequences for yourself and for others.
And then we have the words of St. Paul in I Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” With any kind of work, we are to do it to the glory of God. We can transform any work that appears to be mundane into something extraordinary by virtue of acting and speaking in a way that brings glory to God. We make this happen when we are willing to smile and show courtesy at unexpected moments. We can go the extra mile to assist a co-worker who needs additional help.
If you were to think of about your work, what might be different in terms of how you approach what you do to bring glory to God?
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
A Religious Life that Falls Short
It’s one thing to view and live out your religion in terms of worship, saying prayers, and reading Scripture. It’s another thing to be fully immersed in paying attention to the needs of others that comes out of your religion.
Our faith does not consist in ritual alone, but rather deals with our relationship with others. We can worship God on Sunday, but it we have no concern for the hungry and those who are oppressed in our world, then our religion falls short. We are not totally “into” the religion we practice.
The prophet Isaiah spoke some sharp words to Israel as they were trying to get back on their feet after being in exile. They believed that their fasting, for instance, would put them on the fast track. It didn’t. They were caught up in doing their own thing while neglecting those around them.
The prophet gave the promise to the struggling nation, “if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” (Is. 58:10). Our rituals are acceptable to God only if we are concerned about the needs of others.
The hungry are always around us. How shall we respond? At Savior Divine we have our Caring Cube out this summer for collecting food and the Pennies for Heaven jar. We have helped households in the area with the “Christmas in July” packages. We can donate to the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA. We can participate in the Southwest Suburban CROP Walk in October.
I believe each of us must look carefully at our own religious life, to see that it is not just “me” centered. Our faith must reach out to the poor and to help those who are oppressed.
Why do you think God has set such a high standard for our religious life that goes beyond just empty rituals?
Our faith does not consist in ritual alone, but rather deals with our relationship with others. We can worship God on Sunday, but it we have no concern for the hungry and those who are oppressed in our world, then our religion falls short. We are not totally “into” the religion we practice.
The prophet Isaiah spoke some sharp words to Israel as they were trying to get back on their feet after being in exile. They believed that their fasting, for instance, would put them on the fast track. It didn’t. They were caught up in doing their own thing while neglecting those around them.
The prophet gave the promise to the struggling nation, “if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” (Is. 58:10). Our rituals are acceptable to God only if we are concerned about the needs of others.
The hungry are always around us. How shall we respond? At Savior Divine we have our Caring Cube out this summer for collecting food and the Pennies for Heaven jar. We have helped households in the area with the “Christmas in July” packages. We can donate to the World Hunger Appeal of the ELCA. We can participate in the Southwest Suburban CROP Walk in October.
I believe each of us must look carefully at our own religious life, to see that it is not just “me” centered. Our faith must reach out to the poor and to help those who are oppressed.
Why do you think God has set such a high standard for our religious life that goes beyond just empty rituals?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Stay in the Race
The triathlon is one of the most challenging of all races. It is a test of human endurance. While I have not been in a triathlon, I would think the training is very demanding; yet rewarding for those who finish.
This Sunday (August 19) my message will be from Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2 where the writer invites us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”
The Christian life is referred to as a “race.” If we are going to be successful and finish (if not win) we must put aside whatever would hold us back. If your running, you can’t do it with a heavy backpack; you must be as lean as possible. I think sometimes we get too heavy with our schedules that leaves us with little time to focus on God and our race. Sin of any sort distracts us from being focused on God.
We are not in the race alone. We have a crowd of cheerleaders, which are the saints of the church. They are a “cloud of witnesses.” We can become inspired by them. They weren’t perfect; yet they held on to the end with their faith.
Jesus, too, gives us an example. The writer goes on to say that we are to look to “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross..” Jesus gives us an example of enduring the pain of the cross in order to finish his race.
How fit do you feel you are for running this race? What encouragement do you think we as Christians need along the way? What weight or sin do you believe people are experiencing today that holds them back from living the full Christian life?
This Sunday (August 19) my message will be from Hebrews 11:29 - 12:2 where the writer invites us to “lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”
The Christian life is referred to as a “race.” If we are going to be successful and finish (if not win) we must put aside whatever would hold us back. If your running, you can’t do it with a heavy backpack; you must be as lean as possible. I think sometimes we get too heavy with our schedules that leaves us with little time to focus on God and our race. Sin of any sort distracts us from being focused on God.
We are not in the race alone. We have a crowd of cheerleaders, which are the saints of the church. They are a “cloud of witnesses.” We can become inspired by them. They weren’t perfect; yet they held on to the end with their faith.
Jesus, too, gives us an example. The writer goes on to say that we are to look to “Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross..” Jesus gives us an example of enduring the pain of the cross in order to finish his race.
How fit do you feel you are for running this race? What encouragement do you think we as Christians need along the way? What weight or sin do you believe people are experiencing today that holds them back from living the full Christian life?
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Living on Faith
What comes to your mind when you think of the word faith? Is it believing in something unclear and nebulous or does it leave you with a strong and confident feeling?
The writer of Hebrews addresses the topic of faith in Hebrews 11. A definition of faith is given: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Two words stand out: assurance and conviction. Faith is not about something haphazard; rather it has a solid quality to it. Deep down within us we know that we live with faith in God and hope for the best. We don’t believe just on a lark or expect things to work out just by chance. We need not even doubt what will come the next moment. Our faith is in the Creator of the universe who sustains all creation and seeks our good.
Abraham is held up as the perfect example of what it means to live on faith. He left his home “not knowing where he was going.” (Heb. 11:8). How long can you travel not knowing where you are going? Abraham could go the whole distance because he believed God was leading him every step of the way.
Our text also says that Abraham obeyed God. Obedience is a part of faith, taking the risk wherever God might lead you. Maybe you feel the calling to take a new job or a new assignment within your current job. Maybe you feel the call through your faith to bring reconciliation to a broken relationship. Whatever it is, through faith you feel connected to God and trust that God will lead you and carry you through wherever you go.
What has been your journey in living on faith? What struggles might there be for one living on faith? What blessings might come?
The writer of Hebrews addresses the topic of faith in Hebrews 11. A definition of faith is given: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Two words stand out: assurance and conviction. Faith is not about something haphazard; rather it has a solid quality to it. Deep down within us we know that we live with faith in God and hope for the best. We don’t believe just on a lark or expect things to work out just by chance. We need not even doubt what will come the next moment. Our faith is in the Creator of the universe who sustains all creation and seeks our good.
Abraham is held up as the perfect example of what it means to live on faith. He left his home “not knowing where he was going.” (Heb. 11:8). How long can you travel not knowing where you are going? Abraham could go the whole distance because he believed God was leading him every step of the way.
Our text also says that Abraham obeyed God. Obedience is a part of faith, taking the risk wherever God might lead you. Maybe you feel the calling to take a new job or a new assignment within your current job. Maybe you feel the call through your faith to bring reconciliation to a broken relationship. Whatever it is, through faith you feel connected to God and trust that God will lead you and carry you through wherever you go.
What has been your journey in living on faith? What struggles might there be for one living on faith? What blessings might come?
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