Presence Weekly 09/04/2023

The Devo:  "Getting Back to Work"

Welcome back from the Labor Day weekend. Our nation's annual celebration of work that comes in the form of an extra day off. Summer vacations have come to an end and now it's time to get back to work.

As the Biden administration considers another term, high-ranking, Senate-confirmed presidential appointees are beginning to consider reflecting on one of my favorite songs by the Clash "Should I Stay or Should I Go." Since their appointment and confirmations they have built teams around them who will also “serve at the pleasure of the President” to carry out President Biden’s agenda.

In the coming months, this administration’s appointees will contemplate what they have accomplished and where they have fallen short. Some will stay until the bitter end, hoping that the Biden administration gets another four years. But, many will leave before the election hoping to secure another position before the electorate issues pink slips.

Whether it happens in this election or a subsequent election, the reality is that most of these appointees will watch as their accomplishments are dismantled by appointees of the other party. That will, of course, raise an important question, "What was the point?"

This is a harsh reality for those who serve in government. One of the consequences of elections is that the victors set the agenda and define what it means to “Build Back Better.” After all the building, there is often destruction.

Those serving in government as career civil servants are having a different experience. For years they are told to work in one direction only to be told by a new administration to start in another. What one administration says is valuable, the next may say is insufficient, even harmful.

The analogy of building sandcastles seems fitting. Except, in this case, the appointees are directing the career officials to build the new sandcastle on top of the previous sandcastles, year after year. As they build, their work is commended and then, abruptly, told that it is not acceptable.

For everyone involved, this is rightly frustrating. Some might even say that the constant cycle of building, destruction, rebuilding, destruction, and rebuilding is even futile. How can anyone persevere, let alone take joy in their work?

The Apostle Paul understood this important question when he wrote to those living in Colossae,

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. (Colossians 3:23-25)

These thoughts appear in Ephesians and 1 Peter as well, because many of Paul and Peter’s audience were indentured servants on the wrong side of a vocational power differential.

What the Apostle wanted them to know was that as those redeemed by Christ, their work was an offering to the Lord. In other words, their work was redeemed from futility because God received it as worship!

No matter which end of the power differential you find yourself, in Christ there is no futility of work. There is only the worship of the Carpenter who came to serve His Father and us. Jesus came to set us free from futility and to redeem our work.

In this passage, Paul even includes a good word for any new administration’s appointees; especially in how to treat those whom they are about to ask to redo all their work of previous years,

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 4:1)

For appointees who are Christians, it is important to remember that it is not only their work, but the work of career officials as well which is meant to be offered and received as worship.

This means that those in leadership are called to create an environment in which those working for them know their supervisor believes their work is intentionally offered to God as worship. However, many in leadership often communicate to their subordinates that their work merely serves to advance his or her agenda. This drives work into futility.

The redemption of our work as worship is one of the great blessings of our life in Christ, made possible because of Jesus’ work on the cross,

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

Perhaps Paul understood the need to pastorally care for those in Colasse who had been experiencing futility in their work because he personally empathized with their plight,

In Acts 28:22 we read,

After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.

”And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

Despite all his efforts for Christ, Paul was thrown out of numerous cities, beaten, and had rocks thrown at him. Now he found himself in prison. His situation was bleak: no one liked him, and although he had many skills, nothing seemed to be going well. He was also on the wrong end of a power differential.

It is disheartening and discouraging when all the external information about your work is negative and there seems to be no hope for change. And this hope that circumstances will change is exactly the reason why Paul points his audience to a hope that is elsewhere.

Paul understands something important about vocational calling and effort. God does not call us to be successful or well-liked, let alone to ‘change the world.’ Our heavenly Father does not guarantee that our efforts will lead to increased flourishing or be well received by those around us. Paul’s  hope is not in the success of his efforts, but in the promise of the One who had already successfully overcome death in order to reconcile a people to himself. That is a hope which is unshakable.

This is why Acts 28 does not conclude with Paul in the despair that often arises out of futility,

He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

May the Lord bless those who serve Him by serving in government.

Last Thoughts

Look for updates to our website coming soon and information on two DC-based Whole-Life Discipleship cohorts starting October 1. We are also working hard on a number of fronts and getting ready for exhibiting at this year's TGC 2023 in Indianapolis.

As always, please let us know how we can pray for you.