Work

 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28) 

Yesterday we considered the idea of not stealing. Today, let’s look at Paul’s alternative. Instead of stealing, we’re supposed to work. He goes on to say we’re supposed to do something useful with our own hands. And the purpose of our working isn’t only so that we don’t have to steal from others but so that we can give to others in need.

There is more than one way to look at this. The first is to work at something that provides you with enough money that you can give money to others. I haven’t felt as though I could do this in the past twenty years. In fact, almost everything I have done to which I attached value has either cost me money or provided little to no income.

The other way to look at it is to consider what you can give, or what you can learn to do to serve others that isn’t attached to money. Can you do something that generates beauty? Can you do something, or learn to do something that will let you help someone: cooking, cleaning, carpentry, gardening, sewing, plumbing, shopping, running errands, babysit, pet sit. Not every means of helping has to involve money.

I have to admit, however, that this is difficult for me. I’ve worked, either as a student or an employee, for about fifty-five years and I tend to feel as though I’ve wasted it all. What I’m trying to do and to learn to do in the past three years seems to be yet another case of tilting at windmills.  For each of us, what we do to help others becomes a matter of faith and obedience. The story isn’t over yet.