“One day a meat packer was asked, ‘What is your business?’ He answered, ‘I am a Christian.’ Rather puzzled and perplexed over the answer, the inquirer continued, ‘Sir, you evidently did not understand me. I mean, what is your daily business in life?’ ‘My daily business is to be a Christian. I pack meat to pay the expenses.’”
This story is one that bears truth but not ALL the truth when it comes to our Christian life. It’s true that his wages pay expenses of home, church, mission, and charity. However, he should know that the tasks of his job are also his Christian work for the Lord. In it he is using natural gifts God has given, held and used by believers and unbelievers. The packer is participating in God’s answer to the prayers of those praying, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Lately I’ve been telling nurses and doctors as I encounter them at hospitals, “Thank you for taking care of ________. You’re doing the Lord’s work.” As Christians, our vocations involve spiritual gifts (Rom 12 & 1 Cor 12) and also natural gifts that are part of God’s design in creation. As someone once expressed poetically:
God made the sun—it gives.
God made the moon and stars—they give.
God made the air—it gives.
God made the clouds—they give.
God made the earth and sea—they give.
God made the trees—they give.
God made the flowers—they give.
God made the fowls—they give.
God made the beasts—they give.
God made the PLAN—He gives.
God made man—he …?
The poem stops without saying that man “gives,” critiquing our self-serving human nature. However God wants us to rejoice in knowing He has redemption and purpose for us. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)” This Good News passage reveals the giftedness of our lives. Unbelievers have natural gifts from God and ARE gifts in their good works. Believers have those natural gifts and spiritual gifts, fruit of the Holy Spirit that we pray for and rejoice to see flow through our lives.
Barna research has revealed that 55% of practicing Christians select “church” as the place they most wish to develop their giftings, including abilities that aren’t spiritual in nature. I don’t think classes in meat packing would find their way into this year’s plans at Zion; however, this lent we are on a journey to know our gifts, celebrate them, plan to use them, and grow them… all for the Glory of God.
EveryGift Inventory – As part of our Sunday Lenten Journey to Purpose “Gifted for More” stewardship theme, you have free access to the EveryGift Inventory tool provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries. We’d like everyone at Zion to take some time this week to go online and learn more about your personal set of talents, skill, giftedness (as well as gifts you would like to develop). Find it at:
www.everygift.org
Use the Church Code: zionelpaso
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Stephen
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This post is also available in: Español (Spanish)