The Value of Work
Around these COVID 19 times, ministry has shifted to digital. As a student worker, I no longer have the special opportunities to be with students. But thank God for WhatsApp, et al… Recently, one student friend (we call him S for the sake of my writing), asked me a question. I, C, owe to Him this article. I hope you enjoy and learn from our conversation as you spy into our inbox.
[27/04, 20:29] S: Could you please help me understand, basing on Scriptures, how different professions that Christians undertake play a role in God’s kingdom.
[27/04, 20:29] S: Could you cite for me some of the ways that Christians undertaking these professions can be able to use their professions in ways that give God glory.
[A day later] C:
Hello Brother. Sorry for this delayed response. But I thought that I should give some thought and study to your question. I must say that this question is good.
I think the crux of the matter is in the inherent value of work, which is not seen lately in most teaching and preaching. Let me give a brief introduction so you can get my answer better.
The general assertion by many is that work is a curse or at least a result of the fall/sin. I think you know that this is not the biblical position. You know, that in Genesis 1 and 2 (before the fall), God had already given work to man. It’s even better to note that God had planted the garden himself (Genesis 2:8). So he is a worker. Also that man was not working so that he gets food; it seems he already had food (Gen 2:9). It appears that work was in the initial picture of how things ought to be. Was it to be one of the expressions of Adam’s likenesses to God? For example, the naming of all animals?
It’s good to point out that sin as in Genesis 3, increased difficulty and futility in work. So that work is now hard, and not just an expression of worship.
Two things have been commonly taught, and rightly so. These are;
- The type of workers we ought to be – honest, ethical, caring, faithful, salt-and-light types.
- That we should support “ministry” through the income we earn. Also that we should “do ministry” at our workplaces.
But they do not sufficiently present the biblical notion of work. I have alluded to the fact that work has intrinsic value in itself. It is dignified. It is a good thing. And I mean all work – from preaching to sweeping, ruling to teaching, all work; as you will see below.
The bible admonishes us to do all to the glory of God; whether we drink, what ever we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). I may fall short of specific scriptures about all work, but consider these thoughts from Amy L Sherman in the book Kingdom Calling (you can borrow the book when you come back to campus. Only bring it back once you are done. Just so you know, many books, once lent, never return.)
He says that God’s labours include the following;
- Redemptive work which are God’s saving and reconciling actions. They include evangelists, teachers, pastors, counselors, peacemakers, writers, artists, producers, songwriters, filmmakers, etc.
- Creative work which is God’s fashioning of the physical and human world. This has to do with human creativity. God invited us to be co-creators (only that he created from nothing, we create from something say a table from timber…) They include the arts – sculptors, actors, painters, musicians, poets, architects, designers, etc.
- Providential work which is God’s provision for and sustaining of humans and the creation. This is all that God does to maintain human life in an orderly and beneficial manner. Those we have; policymakers, shopkeepers, farmers, fishermen, drivers at the Mat, bankers and brokers, professors, janitors, IT Specialists, etc.
- Justice work which is God’s maintenance of justice. They are obvious – judges, lawyers, police, prison wardens, chief, Mzee wa nyumba kumi, all participate in the work of maintaining justice which I know you remember is God’s major concern in the Prophets of the Bible.
- Compassionate work is God’s involvement in comforting, healing, guiding, and shepherding. Doctors, nurses, paramedics (all these three, especially at these times), therapists, social workers, community workers reflect his labour.
- Revelatory work which is God’s work to enlighten with the truth. They include preachers, scientists, teachers and professors, journalists, scholars and writers.
My response is already too long, but I have to mention one last thing. It is important for us to notice that this is God’s world, not ours, and that we are only stewards. Then it will make sense to see ourselves as God’s hand, where ever we are, whatever we are doing as his own arm; “working and keeping Eden” (Genesis 2:15).
Let me know what you think about my response. I hope it begins to answer your question, or that it at least reframes it for my understanding.
We have had a good discussion with S. He Hope’s the answer will be useful to you too.
- Published in COVID19, Integral Missions
Science (Too) is on God’s Table
C.S Lewis once argued, “men became scientific because they expected law in nature, and they expected law in nature because they believed in a Lawgiver.” The quest for man to ‘discover’ these laws must have first been inspired by the fact that they exist.
It then follows, that one of the best avenues and opportunities to worship God is in the corridors of nature and science labs. For a long time, some scientists have tried explaining away any subject Christian faith and some Christians have responded in kind. Religion and Science have been pitted against each other as if they are mutually exclusive.
Science is a great pointer to God-the intelligent and genius architect of the universe and every created thing. After He was done creating, He was satisfied with His creation therefore with a deep sense of assurance He said, “It is (very) good”. For this ‘goodness’ or equilibrium to exist He must have put a few principles both on nature and humankind. Scientists can only but ‘discover’ these principles.
Historically, Christianity has been and still is a patron of sciences. It has been prolific in the foundation of schools, universities, and hospitals, and many clergies have been active in the sciences (Wikipedia)[i]. Time fails me to list the Christians [ii]in the sciences, dead and living, who have had a significant contribution to science as we know it.
The Miracle of Scientific Discoveries
According to Pulpit commentary of ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter’ (Proverbs 25:2a) they say,
“That which is the chief glory of God is His mysteriousness, the unfathomable character of His nature and attributes and doings. The more we search into these matters, the more we find our ignorance to be; finite faculties are utterly unable to comprehend the infinite; they can embrace what God chooses to reveal. Secret things belong unto the Lord our God (Deuteronomy 29:29).” [iii]
The fact that scientists discovered that there are scientific laws that seem cast on stone and are empirically verifiable and logical is indeed a pointer to the genius of God and His excellent handiwork. The same way God providentially takes us through our everydayness is the same providence through which scientists get ‘eureka’ moments. Some scientific discoveries have been ‘accidental’ or didn’t happen in labs; like the use of quinine that was used by Jesuits in as early as 1600 to treat malaria affecting the native Andean population.
The original discoverer found these properties with a stroke of luck. The original story, though not well documented, involved an Andean man suffering from malaria who got lost in the jungle. Due to thirst and fatigue, he quenched himself from a pool of water at the base of a quina-quina tree. The waters’ bitter taste made him feel that he’d become sicker but the opposite happened; his fever subsided and he was able to go home and tell the story of the curative tree. Such is the story behind the discovery of x-rays, the pacemaker, penicillin, super glue, etcetera.[iv]
In the wake of the novel coronavirus, (by now we know that it is not ‘novel’ to God) a couple of findings have been made on the nature of the disease. We indeed thank God for the scientific strides that have been taken to slow the spread and flatten the curve. Christians can express this gratitude by following the safety measures prescribed by the scientists through the government.
Praying to A Sovereign God
In this season where a preponderance of humanity is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, God is still Sovereign. He can use or bypass scientists who are busy looking for the cure of this deadly virus. In our praying for a solution, we can ask for a myriad of things concerning the affected and infected, but we can also pray for God’s providence in this season and that can include asking Him for a breakthrough in the labs. With 3,664,494 people having tested positive and 252,758 succumbing to the virus[v], the ‘golden bowls’ carrying the prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8) might as well be full of COVID-19 related petitions.
“Prayer assumes the sovereignty of God, if God is not sovereign, we have no assurance that He is able to answer our prayers. Our prayers would become nothing more than mere wishes. But while God’s sovereignty, along with His wisdom and love, are the foundation of our trust in Him, prayer is the expression of that trust.” Jerry Bridges[vi].
The beauty of praying to a Sovereign God is that He has the advantage of knowing the beginning from the end and He has His own (and many) ways of doing things that can go beyond our wildest imagination (Isaiah 46:10 & 55:8-9). This should inspire us the more and drive us to pray, to pray in hope and not in fear. John Piper best captures this by saying “the presence of hope in the invincible sovereignty of God drives out fear.”[vii] So be of good cheer, everything is on God’s table; Science Included!
References
[i] Online. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_and_science , Accessed on April 12, 2020
[ii] Online https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christians_in_science_and_technology Accessed on April 12, 2020
[iii] Online. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/25.htm Accessed on May 5, 2020
[iv] Online https:/www.sciencealert.com/these-eighteen-accidental-scientific-discoveries-changed-the-world Accessed on April 21
[v] https:/www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Accessed on May 5, 2020 these numbers keep changing
[vi] Is God really in control? Trusting God in a world of hurt by Jerry Bridges, copyright 2006, p. 69-70.
[vii] This momentary marriage-A parable of permanence, Desiring God foundation, 2008 pg. 97.
- Published in COVID19, Integral Missions, Uncategorized
An Unconventional Labour Day!
No Gathering at Uhuru Park
Today is the 1st of May. In normal circumstances, workers, members and officials of trade unions would be drifting in their numbers towards Uhuru Park for International Labour Day celebrations. Under the scorching sun, they would listen to speeches from those that call the shots in the labor union circles and the government. The President would most likely bring the celebrations to a cheerful end, after promising some goodies for the workers; perhaps an increment in wages or a reiteration of workers’ rights, especially for the most vulnerable among them.
Today however things are different; new. Our lives have been upended in ways we could never have imagined. Although I am aware that everyone I know, is hunkered down and safe, I cannot stop thinking with a lot of anxiety, about families of the already infected persons and those that have lost their loved ones. The uncertainty of the future has also got me apprehensive.
We are all currently sailing deep in uncharted waters. We soldier on, but with a destabilizing unawareness of what magnitude of storm awaits us. Having watched this pandemic ravage the globe, will never take for granted normalcy, the ebb and the flow of the world as we have known it.
Granted, we will not have the usual Labour Day celebrations at Uhuru Park. As a matter of fact, a lot of the people who normally celebrate this day are unhappy; some have been laid off from work while others have been forced to take pay cuts, thus affecting their livelihoods and those of their families. This Labour Day has fallen on unprecedented times, it is a Labour Day like no other.
Labouring painfully
A few months ago, I followed a Twitter discussion concerning toxic bosses. A number of Twitter users gave harrowing accounts of the pain of working under such bosses. It was then that I realized how in my short career life, I have been immensely blessed to work under the kindest of men. I have never had ‘boss issues’ at all. I have resolved that if I ever have people working with, for, and or under me, I would handle them with grace.
1 Corinthians 4: 12 says that “… we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled we bless; when persecuted, we endure.” COVID-19 is a trial to all of us, and Paul encourages Christians to endure during such times.
We can do so by:
- Being grateful.
Now more than ever I realize the ground under me could be swept away in an instance. My attitude towards that, however, is not that of fear, but that of a deep appreciation of each moment, person and opportunity I have. To those who have work to do, always be grateful for the blessing of usefulness in work.
2. Being gracious.
If the world was ever hungry for a demonstration of grace, now is the time! Exhibiting it to other people is basically modeling our faith to the glory of God.
3. Showing kindness.
Be nice and kind to those entrusted to you. Everyone is bearing the stress and emotional stability brought about by our collective unknown future.
4. Exercise selflessness.
In the short period, my family has been running a business, it has occurred to us that most entrepreneurs have fallen in the trap of greed; characterized by a need to make unfair profits and to ‘use’ workers, by taking more from them than we give. On this Labour Day, reflect on the condition of the people working for or under you. Be extra kind to them.
- Published in COVID19
Personal Wellness During COVID19
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction to the demands of life but some situations can push us beyond our ability to cope. Everyone reacts differently to difficult situations. It’s normal to feel stressed and worried during a crisis and the effects of COVID19 pandemic are not any different.
Despite our best efforts to deal with the situation, we may find ourselves feeling helpless, sad, angry, irritable, hopeless, anxious, or afraid. Some people may have symptoms of anxiety and depression, have trouble concentrating on typical tasks, changes in appetite, body aches, and pains, or difficulty sleeping or may struggle to face routine chores. When these signs and symptoms last for several days in a row, make one miserable and cause problems in daily life so that it is hard to carry out normal responsibilities, it’s time to ask for help. Ensure you get the help you need!
Here are a few ways we can keep well:
- Published in COVID19
Ministering to a Sick World
The outbreak of Coronavirus that is rapidly spreading all over the world has worried many. Most people on earth today have never faced such an existential threat as they are now, hence panicking. To make matters worse we are not sure to what extent the disease will spread both locally and globally or even when an effective cure or a vaccine will be readily available. As we watch the events unfold, one thing that is evident is that the world as it is today is not a premium place to live, and the idea that the world is not our home is reinforced even further.
This is a world of pain and suffering evidently proved by a major share of problems and dangers we have experienced just within the first quarter of the year 2020, including: global and national conflicts, locusts invasion in Kenya and other parts of East Africa, political fights, earthquakes, and now the current outbreak of Corona Virus disease. It feels like the world is no longer a safe place to live.
A world of plagues
What we should put in mind is that this is neither the first nor the last time the world will face an existential threat in form of a disease.
Just slightly over 100 years ago, the Spanish Flu swept through the world, infecting about 500 million people (or 25% of the world population then). While the world was way much different than it is now in terms of globalization, the Flu was able to make its way around the world fueled by the First World War, with cases reported even here in Kenya.
Back in the 14th Century, The Black Death swept through Asia and Europe and it should be the deadliest pandemic ever reported. In Europe, it is estimated that it caused deaths of 30 – 60% of the entire population.
Going back earlier to the 3rd Century, a pandemic swept through the Roman Empire in the years 249-262 AD, christened the Plague of Cyprian after the Bishop of Carthage who witnessed and documented the plague, it is not clear what it could have been, and at some point, it was causing more than 5,000 deaths every day in Rome!
There are many more plagues that have taken place. Here in Africa, we may not have a good record of how things were in the Congo basin in the year 1020, but we know from stories and folklore that humanity has often faced similar threats to COVID-19.
Responding to COVID-19
If COVID-19 makes human beings recognize that they are under threat from millions of viruses that exist on earth but have not jumped into the human body yet, then, in some way, it is reminding us of a vital reality; we are nothing without God. The world today needs hope, and it is found in God alone.
God wants to use you and me to bring that hope to the world. We can use this moment to offer a lasting hope that is pegged not on material things or anything that can perish, but on God. This pain and suffering should move people to turn to God. In the Bible, we see people turning to God whenever a calamity struck (book of Judges).
It would be wise for those who have never considered the Christian world view to now give it a chance. As C.S Lewis puts it, “Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” This COVID-19 pandemic has compelled us to reflect more about death and eternity.
The Big Picture
The world is fallen, but in the end, God has promised to make everything new once again. Not just in the future, but starting from now. He has called us to be part of his grand plan to restore the world back to him, and this is an ongoing plan which we are part of as believers, and will culminate in the glorious day when Christ’s reign will be restored.
I concur with CS Lewis when he says that “Our world today is an enemy-occupied territory.” and that “Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed; you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.”
As we sabotage the work of the enemy and his agents, we should expect that the enemy will fight back. We should, therefore, act in wisdom, seizing every moment for the glory of God (Eph 5:15-16). As believers in the marketplace and institutions of higher learning, we need to be responsive and act. We need to show people how the Gospel is relevant to the questions they are asking. We must do it with gentleness and love. We must be on the frontline, as ambassadors of Christ especially when circumstances call for urgency to share hope in the Good News of our Lord and Savior.
- Published in COVID19, Integral Missions, Uncategorized
When God Interrupts
Swept by the flood
Whether it bothered the people or not when they saw Noah grind cypress wood and pitch, making a shapeless structure, at least according to the Bible life moved on normally in the community; weddings continued to take place. People savored their barbeques served with chilly and grapes wine. Little did they know about the flood that would sweep them. After 150 days, even though Noah and his family had been saved, life was never the same again. (Genesis 5:32-10:1).
Walls came down tumbling
Similarly, the excitement to reach heaven by the people of Shiner would be cut short sooner than later. All they wanted was to make a name for themselves. God did not sweep them away but you needed to have witnessed the confusion that ensued God’s interruption. How painstakingly long would it have taken for a fundi at the top of the building to ask for one brick (which, abruptly had changed the name in line with new instituted languages) in order to continue with the project! God used the language barrier to interrupt the concerted arrogance of man (Genesis 11:1-9).
Unfortunately, for the fellows in Sodom and Gomorrah, they would never live to see the aftermath of their city, now reduced into a heap of ashes, too consumed by the fire of God’s wrath. They did not know their abominable sodomy had exceeded the elastic limit the night they harassed Lot’s visitors. It must have been a whole new experience for Lot who lost his wife in the process (Genesis 19). (more…)
- Published in COVID19, Devotion, Integral Missions, Students' Blog
May God Relent
At a time when the world has no clue of why things are as they are, we are left with no choice but to turn to our maker. It is sad because we ought to turn to Him at all times but, hey earth, here is to a second chance.
Indeed, we who are alive still have an opportunity to repent and make things right with God. It’s no secret that we have been offending God. We have been selfish, idolaters, liars, slanderers, lovers of money than of God and the list is endless. We are unworthy and it could be that God has just had enough of it, (He is a just God.) But there is something that moves Him in a big way; a contrite heart, a broken spirit, a people ready to change, abandon their wicked ways and turn to Him.
Churches and States have called us to pray to God. Have you prayed? Are you praying? Let us repent earth, like the Ninevites, let us break and blink. (Jonah 3:5-10). Only then will God remember mercy, only then will He relent with compassion and restore us back to Himself.
Let us also heed to the call for social distancing which helps us curb the spread of the virus.
- Published in COVID19