Rest and Joy in Love and Service

https://odb.org/MY/2022/11/17/onwards-unswerving

It is indeed ironical that as I am contemplating when to retire that the LORD speaks about finding our rest and joy in love and service. In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, Paul exhorts the church that was birth from his missionary visit to live a quiet life, mind their own business, work with their hands so that in their daily lives they win the respect of others and do not need to depend on others.

Not just a question of service or ministry in the church but working in the world to be self sufficient. That is why in my view pursuit of worldly wealth and savings is important so that if one day we were to serve God full time, we are still self sufficient and need not depend on any organisation or church for our subsistence. Not to be rich but to be self sufficient.

Having a job and career is often a necessity for most of us as we need to earn a living, that is, we need to earn for our living. We cannot continue to depend on our parents once we reach adulthood as they need to start saving up for their old age. Few are born with a silver spoon.

Of course if we have a calling to go full time for God we should also pursue that. But it is not likely that all are called to go full time as if so who will support the church? That is why most churches nowadays advocate an initial career in the world to gain working experience and build up some savings before going full time. There is thus a case for lay leadership and market place ministry, that is, our mission field is our work place. Going full time for the Lord need not always mean working in the church or ministry although there is a place for that. For most of us, we should always be full time with God in all that we do in particular our job and career. It is also a better place to serve, with interaction with our colleagues and customers and vendors. There are more opportunities to shine for God. More avenues to reach out and show God’s love.

That is why Paul implies that we should find our rest and joy in our work. As we work with our hands, we gain the respect of others and thus can be a better avenue and platform for the Gospel.

Continue to do what we are called to do at our workplace so that we have an avenue to reach out and at the same time gain the respect of others and be self sufficient without needing to depend on others. We accumulate our own wealth and savings so that if one day we want to serve God full time in missions, the church and ministries we need not depend on others for finance. We have our own finance to serve Him full time.