According to the Conference Journal, I am retired.
However—what I remember is what a friend once said: “’Re-tired’ just
means that ‘I am tired again’.”
The Book of Proverbs is filled with verses about work. Sometimes, it
is talking about what you do to make a living; sometimes, it is
talking about how you spend your time and energy.
Proverbs 16:3 puts it all into perspective. The New English Bible
translation puts it this way: “Commit to the Lord all that you do, and
your plans will be fulfilled.”
That does not mean that life will always unfold in just the way we
want or expect. It does mean that God’s purposes will ultimately be
fulfilled.
Proverbs 12:14 says that both what we say (“fruit of the mouth”) and
what we do (“manual labor”) are tools of God’s good work.
There are two Hebrew words used for “work” in Proverbs. One of them
(mel-aw-kaw) refers to how you make your living. The other (po-al)
refers to any act or deed. Those of us who are retired don’t get off
the hook!
Galatians 6:1-10 gives some guidelines for understanding work. The
apostle Paul sees work as any burden you bear (Galatians 6:5). This
might be a physical load. This might be a mental load. This might be
a spiritual load. Sometimes we help others by bearing their burdens
(Galatians 6:2). The bottom line is that we work (carry burdens) for
the good of all (Galatians 6:10).
There is a biblical witness and challenge for the work to which we are
called. It has multiple dimensions through which God will bless us.
What Someone Else Has Said:
In his book Anthropology of the Old
Testament (Fortress Press), Hans Walter Wolff has written: “It is in
this working world, with its many facets, that the task of creation
unfolds itself to (us). Blessing is followed by progress. But
hubris (pride) encounters ‘thorns and thistles’ everywhere.”
Prayer:
As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “Lord, You
have called me to work in all aspects of life...”
