Isaiah 65: 17-25; 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13 by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
November 13, 2016
Stewardship Commitment Sunday
17 For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice for ever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
24 Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord. - Isaiah 65: 17-25
7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. - 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-13
From a young age we are drawn to mentoring figures. They are people who live their lives in such a way that we want to follow their example. A parent’s work often captures a young mind to imitate their parent’s persona by wearing the tool belt or suit and briefcase too. A pastor makes a lasting impression while making time to be present with children and youth in their developmental years. A neighbor or family member is cherished by the way she or he endures life’s hardships with nothing less than grace and gratitude. The examples we follow shape the ways in which we interpret the story of the world and the story of ourselves.
Paul speaks to his flock in Thessalonica and lifts an example for them to follow. He wants the community of faith to look at the example of the apostles and their spiritual leadership. Remember Paul is not lifting up himself alone but rather the model of Jesus Christ which has completely convicted Paul’s conscience. Paul strived to teach, preach, and live out the gospel in the community and in his own life. And Paul strongly encouraged his followers to imitate his example in Christ not in a pious way but in the practical matters of life, particularly in their work.
The daily work that we engage in is held within one of two differing frameworks.
One framework is written by the culture’s assumptions. In Paul’s time, work was framed by an honor-shame society. One’s work or business would do anything to elevate the patriarch’s social status, even to the point of shaming and exploiting others. Fear became a powerful motivator. It was an unjust worldview because it sought self-benefit at the expense of others. This framework is still alive and well today as ladders across the economic spectrum are climbed and each step up is made by a fear of loss and a sacrifice of integrity.
The other framework is written by the gospel’s expectations. Tim Keller is a Presbyterian pastor and I share his words: “God is Creator of the world, and our work mirrors his creative work when we create culture that conforms to God’s will and vision for human beings. God does not simply create; but also loves, cares for, and nurtures his creation. God’s loving care comes to us largely through the labor of others. As an extension of God’s providential work, our labor has its orientation toward our neighbor, and we must ask how it can be done excellently and for his or her good.”[1]
Work was given to our biblical parents as a way to join God in a relational way to help God’s creation flourish. When humanity’s work became tainted by sin then God knew creation and humanity could only flourish through the grace of redemption and reconciliation. This is the work God invites you and I to be a part of. Therefore as stewards of God’s grace we are to seek intersections between our work and faith in order to bring about common good that bears witness to God’s renewal.
The Confession of 1967 offers a powerful image of how we are to do this: “To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as his reconciling community… The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ have set the pattern for [our work].”[2]
The life and ministry of Jesus Christ move us to share common life together. We do this by seeking to mend the divisions among us. We look for the common values that unite us, build up shared accountability, and support one another in times of need.
The suffering that Christ endured opens our eyes to the sufferings of humanity. We are given a new lens in which to see the world around us through the compassion of Christ. As we are moved to lift up our sisters and brothers who suffer, we also are given a unique opportunity to see Christ in one another.
The death of Jesus Christ humbles us as we are often complicit to injustice. And yet Christ died for us in order to reveal God’s promise of salvation to bring new life and justice. As we take steps to imitate Christ’s example in our work and faith, we begin to discover God’s steadfast love to right the wrongs and bring renewal in our hardships.
Even as God is at work to bring about a new heaven and a new earth, we are called to find meaning through the work of our hands. Our hands are to join God in building the Kingdom. We find joy in our work even in difficult times as we join God in bringing eternal hope into the broken places of life. Oftentimes we see God at work through our mentoring examples to experience glimpses of this pattern.
The example of Jesus Christ is the only one worthy of imitating. God gives us an important example to follow as we work in uncertain and anxious times. Fear easily causes us to take our focus away from the gospel narrative.
Many of us are perplexed by that medical diagnosis. Fear causes us to feel isolated and alone.
We are questioning if we will have enough financial resources in an unpredictable economy. Fear makes generosity look foolish.
We are stressed about the political landscape. Fear of our political differences has brought conflict on a national level, in the workplace, and even touches our families and friends. And we are uncertain how to bring healing to these divisions in order to move forward.
Fear is an enemy that makes our work counterproductive in God’s vision for us. No matter what the uncertainty or fear is that weighs upon us as we work- we are to strive to reframe our faith and life from a perspective of abundance and flourishing for all.
The biblical texts as us what narrative are we following? The culture’s assumptions or the gospel’s expectations?
It is an important question because as we look ahead into the upcoming year we have a lot of work to do. If you and I are to truly be stewards of God’s grace then we are to prepare ourselves to be sent out into the world as instruments of God’s grace.
The hope is that God will intersect our unique gifts with the community’s needs if we are open to the Spirit. We are to allow the example of Christ’s life, ministry, death, and resurrection to bear weight in the work we do at school, on the farm, in the office, at the hospice bedside, and right here within this community and beyond.
You see, the integrity of the gospel is at stake. God has given us God’s very heart in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And God invites you and me to follow Jesus’ example and work together to build up a community of love as we talked about last week.
The children helped us to see a glimpse of this vision earlier this morning. We all receive God’s gift of grace through many blessings. And God has called us to stretch out our arms and hands to share the gift of God’s grace and even God’s own heart with others. Just as it takes a number of hands to make a circle of hearts, it takes all of us to reach out the doorways of our homes, our workplaces, and this church to share our blessings that work together to build up a community of love.
Stewardship means that together we are God’s reconciling community at work in the world. We give to God our time, our talents, our treasures, and our very selves. This giving is rooted in making generous sacrifices of grace as Christ made the ultimate sacrifice of grace for us. Let us join our hearts and hands in this holy work to imitate Christ’s example.
If we are intentional in our efforts then we will have the opportunity to create moments of grace that will be spiritual examples for others in life changing ways. Christ leads us to interpret the world and our very selves with nothing less than grace and gratitude. That kind of framework will not let us be weary from doing what is right.
In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.
Sources Referenced:
[1] Timothy Keller, “Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God’s Work” (New York: Penguin Group, 2012), p. 184.
[2] The Confession of 1967 (9.31, 9.32) The Book of Confessions (Louisville: The Office of the General Assembly, 2002).
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