There is the word of the Lord, but there is also the work of the Lord. God is faithful, but God also calls us to work faithfully and not sit idly by as the world is set on fire. In other words, join orare et laborare.
You both take Latin, so you know what that means — pray and work. Don’t just pray as if it all depends on God or just work as if it all depends on you. You are a co-laborer with God, who throughout history has been working to make the world right, reconciling all things to him through Christ.
From the beginning, God structured the world in such a way to make creative work prominent as part of the divine plan. A Sabbath rest on the seventh day is important, but so is work the rest of the other days. Work orders our lives and helps us live into being co-laborers with God.
Second Thessalonians is a great encouragement to get to work, reminding the church of how the apostles worked night and day to support themselves, even though they didn’t have to. Work was their way of glorifying Jesus Christ and participating in the life of Christ. And there’s always going to be work that needs to be done, not for work’s sake or for profits, but for the reign of God.
Some may shake their heads in disapproval or approval of the election results, but the bottom line is that there’s work to do. Work in Christ’s name has a certain texture to it. What is this work? I’m so glad you asked, kids.
Paul’s letter urges us to work and “do not be weary in doing what is right” (3:13). There are those who don’t work for various reasons, but if you work, do what is right. What is right? Right is doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8).
What is right? Right is caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27).
What is right? Right is not mistreating or oppressing resident aliens, because you were aliens in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9).
What is right? Right is “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
What is right? Right is bringing good news to the poor, proclaiming release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and letting the oppressed go free (Luke 4:18).
This is the work of the Lord, and there’s so much work to do. It’s time to “pray with our feet” (Abraham Heschel) and heal with our hands and join the redemptive work God is doing in the world.
There will be those who are “idle” — which really should be translated in the Thessalonians passage as “disorderly” or “disruptive.” They are busybodies, busying themselves in your business, not working, but working around to get in your way. They are doing the wrong kind of work, emissaries of evil.
Not everyone is happy about the work of the Lord. They will meddle in the ministry Jesus has called you to do. And sometimes this will frustrate you or wear you down.
You will get weary from working hard but seeing no results in your lifetime. You will get weary from saying the same things over and over again but seemingly no one appears to listen and you don’t see any change.
You will get weary when it seems as if evil always prevails. You will get weary from working on behalf of the least of these, those whom your servant leadership class at Trinity is focused on.
You will get weary from working for the common good of all.
But let me use Paul’s words: “Don’t be weary in doing what is right.” This is so timely. I know you may not fully understand what I’m saying right now and you’d really prefer to be on Xbox 360 right now, Zachary; I know.
But I want you to be on the right side of history and the right side of theology and follow the steps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t just be for him, but be for what he is for. Let that be your guide for what is right.
Walk together, children, and don’t get weary. Work together, children, and don’t get weary. We’ve come this far by faith leaning on the Lord. Don’t let anybody turn you around. And if you follow Jesus, not even dark days or dark tombs will stop you.
When in the darkness I would grope,
faith always sees a star of hope,
and soon from all life’s grief and danger
I shall be free someday.
I do not know how long ’twill be,
nor what the future holds for me,
but this I know: if Jesus leads me,
I shall get home someday. (“Beams of Heaven as I Go”)
As your grandpa always tells me at the end of phone calls, I’ll tell you today: “Keep up the good work.”
Love,
Your dad, Mr. Dean
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