Work Hard for the Imperishable
Ex 16:2–4, 12–15; Ep 4:17, 20–24; Jn 6:24–35 (B
18)
“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life”
The aim of work according to God’s will is much more than daily
living. When Jesus spoke about the works of God,
the Jews immediately thought in terms of “good” works. It was their conviction
that a man by living a good life could earn the favor of God. When the Jews
asked Jesus about the work of God, they expected him to lay down lists of
things to do. But Jesus says that God's work was to believe in him whom God had
sent. Paul says that the one work that God desires from man is faith.
We must work for the perishable bread. Civilization means
continuous hard work. But when we come to consider spiritual life and growth,
the idea of work seems to slip out of the mind altogether. Belief in Christ is
obedience, because God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, as the Object of human
faith. It is the will of God that men should believe on his Son. It is the
supreme moral probation of every Christian when Jesus comes to him and demands
his faith. Christ points away from many works to this one work – faith.
As a matter of fact, belief in Christ is the turning of the soul
to righteousness. For this is the means of securing pardon and acceptance, of
becoming right with God, and of securing spiritual strength and guidance for
the duties of the earthly life. It is a great moral principle that the gospel
uses for highest ends, that faith underlies doing. A Christian’s inner
convictions determine what his or her habitual works, moral life, should be.
Such is the relation between faith and work, as taught by both Paul and James.
The one apostle lays stress upon faith and the other upon works. And both plead
for the authority of the great Teacher himself.
Believing is the beginning. Work is the continuation of life. Belief
is the inner, work is the outer, process. Belief is the motive, work the result.
Belief is the cause, work the effect. The Divine life for a Christian is a work
but it is a work based upon a Divine Person. And it is faith that unites the
worker to the living and personal Power. It will be in three directions, each
of which corresponds to what Jesus told us of God.
(i) God is love. In our lives there must be love and service of
others corresponding to the love and the service of God, and forgiveness of
others corresponding to his forgiveness of God. (ii) God is holiness. In our
lives there must be purity corresponding to the holiness of God. (iii) God is
wisdom. In our lives there must be complete submission and trust corresponding
to the wisdom of God.
The
essence of the Christian labor in life lies in a new relationship to God, a
relationship which issues in that service, purity and trust which are the
reflection of God. This is the work which God wishes us and enables us to
perform.
“Hope
of life is the beginning and end of our Faith” (DO)
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