Are You Laboring for Nothing?

Are You Laboring for Nothing?

It was the last day of the month – the day the monthly wages are to be paid.  The Labour Officer was given the unpleasant task of announcing to the waiting workers that their wages will be delayed because of a cash flow shortage in the factory. After working hard, any worker will expect to be rewarded with his rightful wages. The disappointment soon engulfed them as they turned emotional; some expressing their anger against the management’s failure and others crying hopelessly not knowing how they will explain the situation to their family.

Prophet Isaiah almost gave up his ministry, since he was discouraged.  He said “I have laboured for nothing” – preaching and teaching Israel for many years did not yield the result of repentance.  God intervened to reward Him by affirming His calling and expanding his commission to even preach beyond Israel as a light to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 49: 1-6)

Apostle Paul writing to the church at Philippi expressed his hope that they will shine like stars in a warped and crooked generation as the children of God, blameless, pure and without fault. His ministry to the Philippians was like an outpouring of a drink offering on the sacrifice.  Paul’s reward was to boast in the presence of God that he did not labour for nothing. (Philippians 2:14-18)

Reward is often the motivation for our hard work.  But money is not the only reward that meets our need. Rewards like appreciation, gratitude, affirmation and encouragement helps a hard worker to receive self-dignity, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-fulfilment. These rewards come from God himself not human beings. Both Isaiah and Paul looked to God for their rewards.

Parents nourish their children that they may grow into a mature adult.  Teachers teach students that they will excel in their academics.  Their reward is not just money but a sense of satisfaction of a job well done.  The preacher says it is good to find satisfaction in our hard work (Eccl 5:18). He also says that his reward was the delight in his heart that he found in his labour (Eccl 2:10).  May we be rewarded with such delight by God in our hard work of parenting, teaching, working and serving and find satisfaction in it!  John Amalraj

Who is the Boss?

Who is the Boss?

Many years ago, I was listening to a lecture on marketing.  The lecturer made an interesting observation on the advertisement commercials. He said that the purchasing decision in a family rests now with the children rather than the adults.  Majority of the advertisements target children who then persuade the parents to buy the particular brand they like. Who is the boss in your family?

 
In the first century, the early Christians were persecuted because they confessed “Jesus is Lord” instead of “Ceaser is Lord”.  Paul writing his pastoral letter to the Colossian church emphasizes the supremacy of Christ over all creation using the words of an ancient hymn Jesus is the image of the invisible God – the creator, the sustainer, the redeemer, the head of the church and the reconciler of all creation – visible and invisible including thrones, powers, rulers and authorities (Colossians 1:15-23).  Paul then writing to the church at Philippi again using an ancient hymn reminds them that God exalted Jesus to the highest place, giving him the name above all names so that at his name every knee will bow and every tongue confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:6-11).  Who is your boss?

Even though we confess Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives, like many back seat drivers, who keep giving instructions to the car driver, we give instructions to Jesus our Lord as to how our life should span out.  We often forget that Jesus the Lord of all creation is the Lord who is in control of our lives.  We easily become disappointed over delays, discouraged over deferment and despair in denials.   Our enemy uses these occasions to bring doubts about the Lordship of Christ.  Who is the boss of your life?

If Jesus is in control and if he is the boss, we need to allow Him to direct our steps every day.  But our human desires conflicts with God’s will.   Therefore we must learn to submit our will to His will and be transformed through the renewal of our minds.  It is only through daily submission, we will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2) 

As Jesus continues to become the Lord of our every area of our lives, we can then help others to make Jesus the Lord of their lives and soon every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  John Amalraj