Just as the 1st Century churches in Antioch, Macedonia, and Achaia aided the distressed Jerusalem church, we now have the opportunity to support our sister churches ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. For the next several months, this blog will list churches – a handful a day, by ZIP code – along the Gulf. Churches are also invited to register to help or receive help at Katrina Church Connection.
After the crisis, this blog will resume discussing practical ways to serve Christ at work.
Sunday, November 30, 2003 How Long is That Second Mile (Again)? A few months back (July 25th) I wrote about a mortgage-broker friend who was being asked – demanded, actually – by a couple of clients to cover the costs of mistakes the clients themselves made. I pondered how far my friend should go in accommodating them. Now, another friend has encountered a similar situation. Here we go again.
Jan is an educational computer consultant. Until this year, she was a full-time employee and exempt. This year, because of budget constraints, she was down-sized but rehired as a part-time, non-exempt (i.e. she's supposed to be paid for overtime) teacher in the same school district. However, Jan's expertise is still needed, so she's constantly being asked to help out – gratis, of course, since there's still no funds for it – on some computer project or task. Because she hasn't said no, Jan's been working full-time for part-time pay. Some of Jan's reluctance to decline comes from her belief that a perception by the district of a bad attitude on her part toward helping out now would work against her in future years. But also, Jan is a generous and giving Christian. What to do?
Jesus said to respond generously to demands made of us (Matt 5.39-42), whether by assaulters, plaintiffs, beggars, borrowers, or those in authority: "...if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile." Roman law, I'm told, authorized soldiers to require locals to carry their packs for a mile, and Jesus told His disciples to voluntarily carry the pack an additional mile. I suppose one could make the case that Jesus was teaching second-mile generosity in response to a statutory expectation while Jan's situation has no comparable legal basis. But the companion teachings on generosity – to assaulters, borrowers, and beggars – were not responses to legal demands, so Jesus' instructions are relevant to Jan's situation.
Paul expanded on Christ's teachings, encouraging the slaves of the Colossians (chapter 3) and the Ephesians (chapter 6) to undertake assignments with good will. Further, as Paul tells the Philippians (2.12-14), we are to work out the salvation God has given us by doing all things without grumbling or disputing.
I believe Jesus is not saying we should exceed unlimited requests, simply that we be generous with what the world would regard as ours: "our" time, "our" things, "our" money, and for that matter "our" pride. Part of the ongoing work of sanctification in the practicing Christian's life is the growing realization that all these things are our Lord's, rather than our own. He did say to go an extra mile – double the required 5,280 feet. Legalistic? Perhaps, but then He did not say to carry the soldier's pack forever.
I'd say it's a matter of common sense, except that we're inclined to make it a matter of economic sense: Jan is paid to do X, so that’s all she should do, plus just enough extra to demonstrate she should be re-hired full-time next year. No, the issue should be a matter of Christian sense. We need the mind of Christ to know what extra service is appropriately generous.
So when Jan should leave, how can she do so without giving offense, either to her colleagues or to God? "I'm outta here, you bloodsuckers!" is probably not what Jesus would say. On the other hand, a simple "I need to go home now" often results in requests for "just this little thing first." My suggestion: "I have tutoring to do, so I have to leave now," even if the tutoring is not to be done today. Stretching the truth, perhaps, but not breaking it; and within the example Jesus gave when He told His brothers He was not going to the Booths Festival but subsequently did (John 7.8-10) [and thanks to Ray for that reference]. The tutoring statement satisfies the colleagues, and Jan can leave without ruffling feathers.
Hijacking "the holiday." Somewhere in time, and especially in the workplace, we stopped recognizing Christmas. It became "a holiday." "Have a good holiday," they say. "Have a good holiday," sometimes I catch myself saying. I hate that. I want them to have a good Christmas. I wish them the joy of they can find in Jesus Christ. I want them to enjoy the blessing of celebrating God's Son's birthday.
But more and more, it seems, our co-workers have a different intent. They want to feel good, but on their own terms, rather than God's, and without a huge amount of sacrifice. Sure, some charity feels good, as long as we don't miss the party. And therein lies the opportunity.
There was a company in Phoenix whose employees actively supported the community. It had its own donor board – Care 'n Share – through which employees could give to charity groups serving the local less fortunate. At Christmas time, the board held a toy drive, gathering donations of new toys requested through various parishes by kids in poor families. A few days before Christmas, volunteers would verify that all the families were taken care of generously, buying those items not donated and gift-wrapping everything. Then all that remained to do was getting the presents to the families.
It always got done, but volunteers for delivery were especially appreciated. Not everyone wanted to drive to the less desirable areas in the inner city or the outskirts of town where the migrant workers lived.
Various people would volunteer, and at least one would be a practicing Christian. He would load up his SUV with presents the employees had bought and then drive out to the shacks behind the dairy farms. He'd stop at the designated homes and walk across the dirt through the chickens to the door, carrying as many gifts as he could. Someone would come to the door. "These are for your family." They would invite him in, and he'd stack the packages on the table before going back to the car for more. At some point someone in the family would ask, "Where is this from?"
That's when "the holiday" was hijacked – tied up with duct tape and dumped at the feet of Jesus. "Well," he'd say, "where I work we were told what you wanted for Christmas. Lots of people bought gifts for you. I don't know why other people bought you gifts, but the reason I did is Jesus loves you and everyone in your family. And He wants me to show you His love by sharing what I have with your children, so they can have a good time celebrating His birthday."
Back at the office, people were enjoying the holiday. Out there, it was a blessed Christmas.
"Truly, when you did it to one of the least of these ... you did it to me."
Comments on The ideal life is a balanced life (Nov 13). Cathy in Scottsdale writes: Obedience is key. Dividing one's time isn't as critical. "All things are legal, not all things are helpful." "All things should be done decently and in order" the Bible says, so some planning of one's time is prudent, but whether in work, rest, family time, or any activity we plan, if we are "setting our minds on things above" while we do any of them, we are being obedient and the "peace of Christ will rule richly in our hearts." "Look to him and be radiant, therefore your face will never be ashamed."
posted by George on 11:58 PM link
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Thursday, November 13, 2003 The ideal life is a balanced life, I'm told. In our post-modern world, there are several demands, often competing, for our time, attention, and both physical and emotional resources. We must discipline ourselves, they say, to share ourselves equitably among all the requests. Don't spend too much time at the office. Leave work at work, so your family time is quality time. But make be available for church and community. And of course take time for yourself to rest and re-charge – otherwise, burn-out is inevitable.
Maybe I'm just a curmudgeon -- OK, yes I am a curmudgeon -- when it comes to this, but the concept of a balanced life strikes me as contrary to the ideal Christian life. To be honest, as a former workaholic, I still suspect the work ethic of the 8-to-5'er, but that's not necessarily justified scripturally. On the other hand, the number of times the words vacation and personal day appear in the New Testament is, uhhh, zero. My good friend Arch points out that retirement is not a biblical concept.
I know, I know: the Sabbath. That's the day God gave Israel to not be distracted from Him by work. Rest is a useful by-product but definitely secondary. It's a means to an end: worship.
The real issue, though, is not leisure but Lordship. Who's directing my life, me or the Lord? Who sets the course to run? Sure, it's up to me to make choices. Is it up to me to arrange the opportunities for choice as well, or is that supposed to be under God's authority?
Paul said that God assigns the opportunities. To the Ephesians (2.10) he wrote we are created in Christ to accomplish goodness in situations God has provided for us. In Paul's life, Luke reported, God told Paul he was to be taken as a prisoner (Acts 21.11) to Rome (Acts 23.11). When the court system intended to send him to Jerusalem, Paul made the choice, by appealing to Caesar according to his right under civil law, that took him where and how God had directed, to Rome.
Paul had crucified – painfully destroyed – his life, giving it to Christ that He might use Paul's body for His purpose (Gal 2.19-20). For Paul, there was no balancing act to apportion his time among evangelizing, discipling, income generation, family and friends, and leisure.
I understand that Paul multi-tasked. We know he worked "day and night" to afford food (2 Thes 3.8) for himself and his companions (Acts 20.34), so clearly he engaged in activities other than apostleship. I wouldn't be surprised, as my pastor conjectures, that Paul occasionally cheered for the Tarsus Tornadoes when they played in the local games. And no doubt Paul rested quietly to refresh and renew.
My guess: Paul's down time, like Jesus', was always in communion with God the Father. I see nothing to suggest Paul compartmentalized his life to take time for himself. Instead of "letting me be me," Paul let Christ be him. Now obviously, he retained his unique personality characteristics and various preferences distinguishing him from others (including Jesus). Yet his essential priority was Christ. When he found himself asserting himself, Paul took "every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Cor 10.5)
This is no argument to imitate Paul in function. God assigned Paul tasks unique to him, such as missionary journeys. The Book of Acts implicitly shows that many believers bloomed where they were planted and were obedient in doing so. (It's a mistake to assume that everyone shares our assignments. For some time Paul was critical of Mark for returning to Jerusalem during Paul's first mission to Turkey. Later, I believe, Paul realized God had sent him and Barnabas, but not Mark, on that particular trip (Acts 13), and with that realization he recovered an appreciation for Mark which Barnabas had never lost.) Paul had his assignments. We have our own.
And they are just that: assigned. By God, and not by us. As obedient servants, we are not to pick and choose those that fit our schedules or goals. Servants do not obey as time permits or if consistent with career development. We respond when and where called. God may very well give us time to watch JAG, Gilmore Girls, the Phoenix Suns, and OSU Buckeye football. Even then, our responsibilities remain: availability and thanksgiving.
By faith we can be confident that God can achieve through us whatever He assigns to us. Despite circumstances, Paul, and we, "can do all things through Him Who strengthens...." (Phil 4.13)
Oswald Chambers wrote: After sanctification, it is difficult to state what your purpose in life is, because God has moved you into His purpose through the Holy Spirit. He is using you now for His purposes throughout the world as He used His Son for the purpose of our salvation. If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, "God has called me for this and for that," you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God’s interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world. Your understanding of your ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord. I must learn that the purpose of my life belongs to God, not me. God is using me from His great personal perspective, and all He asks of me is that I trust Him. [from My Utmost for His Highest]
posted by George on 3:21 PM link
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