SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

Sermon by Pastor MaAn

2 Thess. 3:6-13

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Every year Labor Day is celebrated in all the 50 states of our nation, including the District of Columbia. We have done so as a people since 1882 to “pay tribute to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.” (Department of Labor website)

An Ode to Labor Day that appeared in the Positive Human Development website began with these words: “Ah, Labor Day! The day when many Americans find solace in being able to take some time to appreciate family time and rest from work...”

The Wikipedia website adds that “Traditionally, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white. In U.S. sports, Labor Day marks the beginning of the NFL and college football seasons.”

And yet today, the labor force in our country has little to celebrate. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released last Friday, in August there were 14.0 million unemployed persons in the country. 8.8 million were part time workers because their hours were cut back or because they were unable to find a full-time job. And 2.6 million were marginally attached to the labor force last month. These were those who had given up or had other priorities, as one writer put it.

Some of them are members of our own families. Others are friends or co-workers. Or, it could even be one of us here today.

So, why the particular reading from Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians this morning? At first hearing, it may seem that it is rubbing the issue of unemployment in, which is already causing a lot of heartaches and difficulties for the partially employed and those without work. On closer look, however, nothing could be further from the truth.

For in fact in this letter Paul is lifting up the value of work. We see this from the way he used his own example and the example of his co-workers in the Lord’s vineyard. Listen to him again:

⁷... we were not idle when we were with you, ⁸and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you....” (2 Thessalonians 3)

Paul’s issue was with “believers who are living in idleness” (verse 6), those “unwilling to work” (verse 10), “mere busybodies, not doing any work” (verse 11).

They were those who, believing that the Lord was coming back soon, did nothing to support the faith community in any way, but were instead sucking up its resources.

He was not against people who sincerely wanted to work but could not find any as many of our unemployed brothers and sisters do today. For Paul, work is a gift from God. According to the Book of Genesis, after creating the first man –

¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2)

And not only that, in creating the world and all that is in it, God himself worked! God worked so hard that he needed to rest on the 7^th day!

When Jesus came, he worked, too.

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come, ”he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1)

He went about doing good: healing the sick, exorcising demons, challenging the disciples, the Pharisees and Sadducees, carrying the cross and dying that we may have life. All that was work. Unpaid perhaps, but work, nonetheless, work for the common good. And when he entrusted his mission to the disciples, they too had to work. The entire Book of the Acts of the Apostles is a record of their work.

Work is important. It is to be valued not only for the monetary gain it brings, but for the dignity and the sense of well - being it gives the one who engages in it and those who rely on them for sustenance. That is why we find it very difficult when we are deprived of the opportunity to work. For is it through work, we put our God- given talents, skills and the resources we earn from working to good use.

And so today and tomorrow, as we observe Labor Day, let us be thankful for the opportunity to work. Let us hold in prayer for sisters and brothers who have been forced out of work by circumstances beyond their control. Let us reach out to them in love and offer to do what we can to support them in this time of need. May those of us here who are out of work, not lose heart. Continue to be proactive. Let this time be an opportunity to reflect on where and how else your gifts may be well used. Go out. Network. Keep your eyes and ears open. And above all, stay in love with God. Be steadfast and persistent in prayer. Know you are not and are never alone. God help us all. Amen.