Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Human participation in
God's work
“For we are God's fellow workers” (V.
9)
Today May 1st, is celebrated as May Day-International Workers Day- This day
is set aside to celebrate the value and dignity of work and is an official
holiday in over 80 countries. Although it was originated in the United States,
for political reasons it is celebrated in September as Labor-day. The Bible has
some concrete things to teach about work. Work is part of our created purpose
so that we can serve God. In fact work is reflection of the God who has
been working from the beginning and God has chosen men as his fellow workers in
his continuing creative work. The Gospel is full of stories such as day
laborers, vineyard workers, planters, fishermen, sowing the seeds and harvest.
Jesus is talking and teaching about the system and structure of economic
extraction, the means of productions and dignity of labor. Rick Warren,
in his book The Purpose Driven Life writes "work becomes worship when you
dedicate it to God and perform it with an awareness of his presence".
All through the Bible we see a God who is working and people working with
God as his fellow workers. After the creation of Garden of Eden and
putting everything in order, God entrust man with the responsibility to work
and take care of it. Here God started working with man and appoint him as
his fellow worker and enjoyed his fellowship. After man committed sin
that fellowship was broken and God in his own initiation covered their
nakedness (sin). We see a redeeming God. Then Abraham was called out
giving promises and a new people was formed out of him. In the whole process
Abraham was working with God and acted as His fellow worker- we see a calling
out God.
When his own people were enslaved in Egypt, Moses was called out to
liberate them and guide them to the promised land. In this exodus event,
Moses was acting as God's fellow worker. When his own people committed sin and
disobeyed, God sent Prophets, reminding them to bring them back to God - Here
prophets were God's fellow workers. In the fullness of time God sent his own
son to die on the cross to save the
people.
We see a God who is working with people; creating, redeeming,
liberating, law giving, reminding, loving, dying and saving God. The people who
work with God in the whole process are called God's fellow workers. They
labor with God in promoting his purpose in the salvation of His creation.
They work with him and for Him. Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God when
he started his public ministry used his disciples as his co-workers. He enjoyed
the participation and active involvement of people in doing most of the
miracles. In feeding the five thousand, the boy who brought the five
loaves of bread and fish and the disciples who served it were Jesus' fellow
workers.
Prayer: Dear God we thank you for choosing us as your fellow
workers in your continuing process of establishing the kingdom of God that you
started...Amen
Thought for the day: It is a great honor and
privilege to become fellow workers for such an awesome mighty loving God.
P.V.Varghese, Epiphany
MTC New York