Perhaps we need to gain fresh motivation by believing that anything we do that has spiritual meaning and influence has a forever factor in it. We plant flowers, but they ultimately wither and become mulch in nature. We take time for the internet, or television, but they fade for us without useful future – yesterday’s passing news on the morrow. I can do a myriad number of things, useful for an ordered life, but the important activity is that which has eternal value and survives ultimate accounting. It will be recalled in that last review of the worthiness of an invested life. Life has a forever meaning. That is what divine life has that differs from natural life – no death.
I have met a few persons in my lifetime who I thought worked too hard. Nearly all worked enough to earn a living, gratified that they gave back to the world some of the value they had taken from it. Those working fervently, seemed to feel or think differently than others. For the most part, they found a kind of serenity and relief in their work. I did. I did not need to take vacations, or find meaningful distractions. I am sometimes criticized for the way I approached the whole matter of work and leisure for myself. Decades apart, two dear friends said to me: I don’t want to work as much as you do. I do know that I did not expect others to follow my schedule and interests. I know that I did not wish to impose myself on the lives of others, even my children.
I offered to set my work aside for interests held by my wife. She periodically called me on my commitment. Then, after our children had fled the nest, she said she knew that I would respond to her interests, but she found peace in seeing me fulfilled in what I chose to do with my hours. Since her death I have wanted as much as ever to back away a bit. Although advanced in years, I am happily occupied with my full daily activity, which may mean little to others. I do enjoy time for family members – if invited. I agree with Dorothy Sayers’ statement: The only Christian work is good work, well done. Before Christ visited earth, Aristotle said: The only happy man does work, and does it well. My problem was to cut out some factors that others might be done better. Sometimes I tried too much.
I do take comfort from the recital of the Apostle Paul regarding all that he went through, and the end that he felt would crown his work as a Christian. We may forget that the Apostle made his living as a tent maker – a busy fellow. Jesus called his disciples to work to the point of exhaustion, but then he drew them aside for rest and recuperation. Scripture clearly has much to say about leisure and change in daily life and schedule. Much of the Mosaic Law is dedicated to finding days off for Israel. Never did a people have so many holy days in which they were freed from laborious work. The words are placed in the form of a command. On some days they were not to do any laborious work – not only on the Sabbath, but a number of other days in the year as well. The rules applied to slaves as well as free persons. Slaves have not been perceived in general societies as having days free from labor for masters. Work is, for some persons, a balm. As one may have the gift of speaking, of art and music, of healing, of wealth, of teaching, so one may have the gift for laborious work – especially work with eternity in it. It is important to work for the time is coming, according to the hymn, when man’s work is done. Those most gratified with their life’s work feel called to it. Work belongs to one’s person. That is clear in the rather curt statement from the Apostle Paul that: The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat – at the church’s table. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) I ask God for continuing duty in my life. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020