Daily Encouragement

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

One of our more "successful" selfies in front of Keller's Mill Covered Bridge, the only white covered bridge in Lancaster County, near a rail trail bike ride we took yesterday.

"A Biblical Perspective On Work Attitude"

Message summary: Today let us recognize labor to be a gift from God and consider the ways we can honor God in our labor.

Listen to this message on your audio player.

"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you" (2 Thessalonians 3:7). "We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive" (2 Thessalonians 3:11). "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Ephesians 6:7).

Yesterday was Labor Day here in the US, a national holiday and most were off work, but not all. Late in the afternoon a Fed Ex man was working and brought us a package. At that very time a strong storm came through our area which terrifies our border collie Mollie. She ran out before I could stop her and jumped into the Fed Ex truck looking for what she supposed would be a safe haven!

Ester spent Labor Day at the shore with some friends, leaving very early in the morning, so we dropped her off and then took a bike trail round trip ride from Lititz to Ephrata and afterwards ate lunch outdoors at the Tomato Pie Cafe. Who would have thought tomato pie could be so good but it sure is!

“Labor Day” means different things to different people but let us recognize labor to be a gift from God and consider the ways we can honor God in our labor.

The Labor Day holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. At the time labor was seen as distinct from owner/management but for purposes of this message we recognize labor in a more inclusive sense. As chaplains we observe both laborers and owners/management and they all work!

In the last several years there has been a concept known as the great resignation with many checking out of work for a variety of reasons; in some instances it is somewhat understandable but for many it is for selfish and certainly short-sighted reasons. Like many things it also seems to be fad. And it's ultimately very selfish, expecting others to carry your load. In working and doing our part we are practicing the "golden rule".

An anti-work website group has over 1.5 million self-described "idlers". The group, which has members from across the world, is a home for "those who want to end work, are curious about ending work, want to get the most out of a work-free life, want more information on anti-work ideas and want personal help with their own jobs/work-related struggles". *¹

Scripture warns against idleness.

"Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks" (Ecclesiastes 10:18). Apply that to society and you can understand the mess we are in!

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:"For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you" (2 Thessalonians 3:7). A few verses later he wrote, "We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive" (v11). It's interesting to see how there is a relationship between idleness and disruptiveness. If people don't have meaningful work they tend to get in trouble. Just consider what is happening in so many cities. As per the old saying, "Idleness is the devil's workshop".

Others advocate a justness in "quiet quitting", a term used to describe "doing the bare minimum at work".*² We are not sure how new this is though! But now people are justifying it!

This attitude violates the Scriptural call to "Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people" (Ephesians 6:7). This command is given in a context analogous to secular employment. We would also call people that practice this slouchers!

In the course of our chaplain ministry we often seek to encourage people and remind them of the value of their work. The other day I spoke with Chuck, an electrician, and he told me, "I enjoy my work". That was sure good to hear in light of all that's going on. May God help us all to realize that in working we are able to honor God and serve others!

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, help us to labor wholeheartedly according to Your command. We want to bless You with a grateful attitude and bless our workplace in regard to our productivity and loyalty. We thank You for our daily provision and blessing that comes through the work of our hands. We also thank You for our employers who provide our paychecks to meet our monetary needs. We pray for those seeking employment that You will provide work but until that financial door opens we pray that You will provide through unexpected means and the generosity of others. As You bless us through the work of our hands we in turn bless You by faithfully giving back to You a generous portion to finance Your kingdom through the local church, Christian ministries, and other worthy endeavors. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

*¹ ‘Lying Flat,’ ‘Antiwork’ And The ‘Great Resignation’ Spreads Worldwide As Young People Protest Against System

*² How ‘quiet quitting’ became the next phase of the Great Resignation

Andre, a thoughtful reader from South Africa shared this response regarding last Thursday's message:

"Thank-you for the insightful message on "The Fear of the Lord". It is indeed an aspect of biblical revelation which has been under-emphasized especially in these times when "people (are) fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world". Oswald Chambers wrote: "The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else". He wrote these words at a time when the church likely had a better understanding of the fear of the Lord and when world events were probably as tumultuous as they are today."

Early yesterday morning after dropping Ester off for her trip to the shore we headed over to Lititz for a bike ride along the Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail-Trail.

We drove past this apple orchard early yesterday morning south of Lititz PA. We got such much needed rain last evening and throughout the night. Our rain gauge shows about 1.5" rainfall and it is still falling.

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The beautiful Lititz/Warwick (Ephrata) rail trail goes through some wooded area but mostly through farmland.
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A stockade fence is built around this trail porta-potty. Gardeners freshly "painted" it with beautiful canna lilies and peppered the ground with bright pink petunias!
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At the end of our 20 mile bike ride (including off trail exploring) we ate lunch at the Tomato Pie Cafe in Lititz, a very popular restaurant. We both enjoy tomato pie which we never had before we ate it at this restaurant many years ago. In fact when we first heard of it we thought it didn't sound very good. Brooksyne now makes a very good version and will serve it to a large group of ladies from our Sunday School class (ABF) in several weeks. For one of her ever-evolving recipes see in this post (scroll down).

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Lititz PA is an interesting town located 9 miles north of Lancaster city with a perfect layout for walking in the artsy borough. The Wilbur Chocolate Company, which predates Hersheys, is a luxury condominium complex (video). Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756. For a century, only Moravians were permitted to live in Lititz. Until the middle of the 19th century, only members of the congregation could own houses; others were required to lease. The lease system was abolished in 1855, just five years before the beginning of the Civil War.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.

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