I mentioned yesterday how as a 14 year old boy, I’d help my Dad build our new house at 4314 Lake Street. I have to admit that my contributions were not major. I remember falling off the back of the truck one time hugging a 94 pound bag of Portland cement. I fell into a pile of sand that was used to mix the cement. He’d never consider having it delivered. He always mixed his own! Anyway, I’d unload the truck, sweep up when the day was done, go get coffee, water, or whatever anyone wanted. I’d hold things for others doing the work. In other words at best I was a “go for.” Sometimes, I’d actually feel like I was just in the way.
In 1 Chronicles 23, the responsibilities of the Levites in the house of the Lord are laid out. Verse 28 says, “For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God.” The Levites were the “go for’s” for the priests! They did the menial work so that the priests could focus on the responsibilities of the sacrificial system. And yet the work of the Levites is called “Holy Labor.”
That’s what Paul wanted the Colossians to understand when he wrote to them, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for me. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col 3:23-24). All work can by “Holy.” It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, it is why he does it.
God wants us to get it also.
Chuck
“Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.” James 4:11