Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Careers, Workplace and Religion
There’s work to do; or, An open letter to my children

There’s work to do; or, An open letter to my children

Last updated on: November 17, 2016 at 7:46 pm by Guest Contributor

There’s work to do; or, An open letter to my children 2016-11-17T19:46:17-05:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

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

Previous Post

November 14, 2016

Why the #election is a faith and work crisis

Next Post

November 19, 2016 Empathy and the Executive Sale

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Audio posts Bible and Work Book Review Books Budgeting Calling Common Good Community Development Conferences Discipleship Economics Entrepreneurship Ethics Faith and Family Faith and the Marketplace Faith and the Workplace faith and work History of Work and Vocation Leadership Local Church Meaning New Blogger News Prayer Relationships Seminaries Theology of Work Uncategorized Video posts Vocation Worship Resources

Select a Month April 2026 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 April 2025 January 2025 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 May 2024 March 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 August 2023 July 2023 April 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 June 2021 May 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Psalm contains "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Psalm 119 Psalm 23 Psalm 51 Psalm 1