Blue Collar Apostles
We worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
1 Thessalonians 2:9
Roger had just come off a ten-hour shift at the plant he’d worked at for the past twenty-seven years. His friend Marcus was quizzing him on how he managed to work full-time and pastor a church of some ninety parishioners.
Roger continued, “Paul did it. This is God’s call, not mine. When Paul, Silas, and Timothy were in Thessalonica, Paul realized that he and the disciples’ presence could be a burden on the resources of this young church. Rather than strain them and cause reason for grumbling, they paid their own way, attempting to teach the Thessalonians that hard work was something to be embraced, not shunned, as they were in the habit of doing; they would rather employ slaves than do manual labor themselves.” Then Roger added, “In the same way, Grace Community can’t afford to pay me a full-time salary right now.”
Marcus persisted. “So how long are you willing to do this? I mean, do you actually think this is God’s plan for your life—working yourself weary?”
Roger smiled and replied, “God’s desire is that our little church would flourish and grow doing the work of the kingdom. Until they can afford a full-time salary, I intend to ease the burden as much as possible.”
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In his first Epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded them of how hard they had worked among them in order to have an opportunity to preach the gospel. He wasn’t complaining about the work; he was teaching them that God calls us to be laborers with Christ.
Many, today, believe that God will provide everything they need on the basis of belief in Jesus Christ. And although God loves His children, He wants them to understand that hard work is synonymous to kingdom work. We cannot say, “God will take care of me” and do nothing to assist Him.
Prayer
“Teach us to embrace co-laboring with You, Jesus. May we never allow ourselves to become a burden that would cause grumbling. Move us from our perspective of entitlement to a right-minded understanding that we must labor in Your employ. Amen.”
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