Labor for the Church

Nowadays, how is serving the church measured? It seems to be measured in the amount of hours clocked in any ministry. It is how much you give to the church. I would like to present another dimension of service which is often very much overlooked and sidelined.

In Colossians 1:24-2:1-5, Paul talks about his service or labor to the church. Let’s look at Colossians 1:25-26.

25I have become its (church) servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.

Paul became a servant to the church not to serve in various so called ministries or to give money to the church but his focus was in presenting the word of God in its fullness. In my opinion, things today have been oversimplified. I like simple stuff, as long its essence and force is not lost. However, for example, matters pertaining salvation and Christ work on the cross have been downplayed. We try to present a ‘maggie mee’ gospel, a gospel that can be understood and digested within 30minutes. They do not take the time to present the gospel fully, as Paul does. I am currently reading John Stott’s “Cross of Christ” where he examines what Jesus did on the cross. He puts it in simple language which is relatively easy to understand but the book is thick. Imagine a book almost as thick as a Harry Potter book talking purely on the meaning of the cross to Christians. Do pastors and leaders nowadays talk about things like ‘propitiation’, ‘justification’, problem of forgiveness, God’s holy love, sin, etc? I guess not often.

28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.Colossians 1:28-29

Notice that he starts with the word ‘we’ means he was not alone in the endeavor. He probably was with other fellow Christian brothers in this task. So, things like teaching and admonishing are not only to be done by the pastor but by everyone.

However, those who want to teach have to get his or her doctrine straight before claiming to teach. If you teach false doctrine or wrong teaching, you will be accountable for it before God. Those receiving the teaching also have the task of counter-checking the teachings presented with the Word of God.

2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.Colossians 2:2-3

What does the church define riches? Big buildings, good PA system, nice air-conditioning, growing ‘ministries’, etc. But what does it say here? To know the mystery of God and what Christ has done is like searching for valuable treasure. When we have complete understanding, it says here that we have full riches. If that is the case, should we not strive to that end? If that is so, why all the self-help, feel good sermons every Sunday?

Am I saying ministries and all that stuff are bad in itself? No. In fact, things like helping the community are good and should be continued. However, priorities have to be set properly or we may end up making idols of those things, and we know that God does not put up with this kind of attitude.

23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Musings

Today, the whole world is being hit by recession. Stock prices are fluctuating, economic growth is stunted, and the global economy is going haywire. The future seems so uncertain. Everyone is worried, even most Christians. I find this quite amusing as I will explain in awhile.

Nevertheless, despite of the terrible downturn, some churches are still going ahead with their building projects. They say we have to go forth in faith that God will provide and the building will be a success. Nevermind we don’t have the money, God will provide. However, the amount spent is not small at all. It runs into the millions.

What I am going to infer next is meant sarcastically but I can’t help but see a glimpse of truth in this. God might use these churches building projects to help elevate the economy situation of at least, Malaysia. How so? Well...because of the job loss and cut in pay, people have less spending power. So, they tend to save and not spend their money. By not spending their money, companies and businesses can’t sell their products, which cause them to cut jobs and salary. This will become a death cycle, plunging the economy deeper as money circulating in the economy decreases. But, instead of saving, the church is spending, and lavishly at that! Millions is not exactly a small amount. It will pump a lot of money into the economy to be circulated and help the ailing economy. Ingenious! So, I say, go ahead! Build all you want. It is doing society at large a great favor. (Remember, sarcasm. It may not be true. Just something that just came to me. :P ) How the money is acquired, I don’t know. I suspect it will mean more fund raising stuff to siphon the money. Yeap. All in the name of religion.

I will now explain my amusement stated in the first paragraph. If an unbeliever is worried of the future, I understand. But if a Christian is overly worried, something is wrong. I suspect many Christians are worried because there are even sermons on how to live a joy full life in midst of economic recession. So, before the economic recession God is on the sidelines? Only during economic recession we look to him for joy? This means before this your joy came not from God but from the world? Your worldly treasures have become your source of joy and it is under threat of being removed.

Why should we be worried? Has not God promised to provide for us? Or maybe you are worried for losing your wealth instead. All this while, you rested on your wealth saying, “I have a comfortable life. I have everything I want” and this is about to be taken away. Is this why you are worried, that your comfortable life is threatened? How true when the Bible says to cast a glance at riches and they are gone (Proverbs 23:5). But no, we focus on them. We want expensive structures. We horde and accumulate wealth for our lifestyles. Now, during this time, we are reaping what we have sown. You valued wealth, just like the world? Now, suffer along with the world.

Some even go to say that the economic troubles are caused by Satan and his demons. I beg to differ. Who created the current economic capitalist system? Man. Who are the selfish and greedy ones that was the source of the recession? Man. We humans have dug this hole ourselves. Satan probably only had to prod us in the direction he wanted us to go. We chose the path ourselves. It is now our own undoing.

We shouldn’t be worried in the first place. Has not God promised to provide for us? Look at the birds of the air. Look at the trees. Are they not doing well? Certainly God values us more than plants or birds! If God provides for them, how much more will he provide for us? That is enough reason for us to be joyful already (or joy full). (Matthew 6:25-34)

But some may doubt that God will provide, like me sometimes. I have thought about it and I take the stand Daniel’s three friends took while threatened with death for not bowing to King Nebuchadnezzar’s idol.


17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)

Even if God does not save us, for reasons known only to Him, we will not renounce God’s name or turn away from him. To utter these words and believe them in your heart requires immense faith and trust in God, that even if God doesn’t save us, we trust that he knows what he is doing. This is the stand I take and I find release and peace in this. Indeed, all praises to Him for he will not forsake his people whom he redeemed with his own blood. Praise the Holy Almighty God who is full of grace and mercy. All honor, glory, power and praise be to him alone. Amen.

Eighty and six years have I served Him, and he never did me any injury; how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior. -Polycarp, disciple of the Apostle John, and Bishop of Smyrna