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Work ethic vs. workaholic. How ironic that, while parents try to instill a work ethic in their children, children often accuse their parents of being workaholics. In fact, it’s often true. Most children will not grow up to be dependable, hard workers unless they are properly taught and trained. And many parents, especially some dads, need to slow down, take a break from work, and get reconnected with the family.
This week we celebrate the annual Labor Day holiday in the United States, recognizing the contribution of working people in our society. Without the productivity of the labor force in our country, we wouldn’t have a country. No country can long exist if its citizens are lazy. But neither can a country long exist if its families are decimated by parents who are physically or emotionally absent from the home because they never take a break from work.
This tension between too much work and too little work is something we all deal with at times, and it’s doubtful we’ll ever resolve it entirely. As we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we should note that there’s a similar tension in our service for Jesus. Our commitment to serving Jesus coupled with our deep appreciation for all God has done for us should motivate us to work for Jesus with total dedication. Considering what he’s done for us, being a workaholic for Jesus is quite logical.
Yet, while it is true we are called to serve, it’s also true we are called to rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “I will give you rest.”* And in Hebrews 4:10, we are told that believers who enter God’s rest “also cease from their labors as God did from his.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 includes this tension. Verse 8 says we are saved by grace, but verse 10 says we are created in Christ for good works. As we partake of the bread representing Jesus’ body and, then, the juice representing his blood, may we be reminded the most important work has already been done. When it comes to our salvation, there’s nothing left to do. As the old hymn says, “Jesus paid it all.”
Yet, we all know there is work left to do. Countless other people do not understand the price Jesus paid for their sins. Let’s not leave Communion time without recommitting ourselves to do the work Jesus has left for us to do.
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*Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version,
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