SERVICES  NO  LONGER  REQUIRED ?

‘I’m very sorry, but your services are no longer required …’  Today, such sentiments are quite understandably dreaded by thousands of workers who have families to feed, mortgage commitments to meet and hefty fuel bills to pay. As the present economic recession begins to bite, so the bad news on the employment front has gathered pace and produced recent headlines like: ‘300 People a Day declared Insolvent’, ‘Medium-size Firms Suffer’, ‘Car Sales Slump’ and ‘New Jobs Dry Up’.

A short time ago, I spoke to a former factory shift worker who had recently been told that his services were no longer required, due to a lack of work orders coming in. He was understandably devastated, wondered how he could ever make ends meet and felt frustrated that he was no longer going to be able to serve God in that way. Yet this man’s predicament did set me thinking about how we can serve God.

I strongly believe that God knows all about our changing circumstances and possible limitations. In difficult situations [usually not of our making or wanting!], we need not feel guilty about our comparative inactivity. We must also remember that ‘work’ means far more than simply the activities for which an employer may pay us. With this understood I think that we are then better placed to understand the Christian concept of work.

The Bible suggests that work tasks are ‘a gift from God’ (Ecclesiastes 5:19). Now if we truly regard work as a gift from God, then suddenly every task, whether large or small, becomes full of purpose and opportunity. The concept of working for God and so being in His Majesty’s Service, can surely give our work tasks a whole new meaning. I genuinely believe that washing the chip-pan, weeding the garden, ironing a pleated skirt and other similar tiresome jobs can be transformed if we aim to please God through the way that we work!

 For all of us there will be times in life when – like the former factory worker – our expected or preferred work role unexpectedly disappears. Does this mean that our services are no longer required? Not at all! Even in times of relative or enforced inactivity, we can still delight God through our prayers [for others]; by our smiles and positive responses [to others]; by our appreciation [of others] and by allowing others to share their gifts with us. As we prepare for another celebration of Our Lord’s birth in Bethlehem, St. Paul has a message worth pondering, whatever our present circumstances might be on the work-front:

‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord … for it is the Lord Christ you are serving’ (Colossians 3: 23).

              Wishing you a Love-filled Christmas and a Peace-filled New Year,

                                         Your Minister and Friend,

                                                        Martyn.