"The Dignity of Work"

First Presbyterian Church
September 3, 2006
Peter S. Buehler
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

I WAS DRIVING DOWNTOWN THE OTHER DAY, MY MIND ABSORBED IN THOUGHTS, WHEN I CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND SEVERAL DETOUR SIGNS.
STREETS WERE BEING REPAVED; TRUCKS , EQUIPMENT AND WORKERS WERE EVERYWHERE.
THE ONLY OPTION WAS A LEFT TURN AND A LONG DETOUR (A SHORT DETOUR, REALLY, BUT WHEN YOU WANT TO GET SOMEWHERE, EVERY ROUTE BUT STRAIGHT AHEAD IS TOO LONG).

AS IT TURNED OUT THOUGH, THE RED LIGHT WAS A PERSONAL SIGNAL TO ME TO STOP, TO NOTICE, TO OPEN MY EYES AND APPRECIATE WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN REPAVING AND RENEWING A STREET.

THE REPAVING CREW WAS MOVING FAST, SPREADING AND SMOOTHING THE BLACKTOP WHILE IT WAS HOT AND COULD EASILY BE WORKED.
AND CLEARLY THERE WAS A KNACK TO WHAT THEY WERE DOING, HOW NEW PAVEMENT NEEDED TO BE SPREAD JUST UP TO BUT NOT OVERLAPPING THE CONCRETE CURB.
IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND THAT AFTERWARD A LABORER COULD LOOK BACK ON A NEWLY REPAVED SANTA BARBARA STREET AND SAY,
I HAD A PART IN THAT.
I DID THAT.

I REALIZED THAT I WAS GLAD FOR THE AND THE DETOUR.
I NEEDED TO BE REMINDED TO PAY ATTENTION, TO VALUE THE WORK OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO TOO OFTEN ARE ANONYMOUS, YET WHO, IN THE WORDS OF ONE BIBLICAL WRITER, "KEEP STABLE THE FABRIC OF THE WORLD," "(FOR THEIR) PRAYER IS IN THE PRACTICE OF THEIR TRADE" (Sirach 38:34).

IT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT AFFIRMATIONS OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION OF THE 16TH CENTURY, OF MARTIN LUTHER AND JOHN CALVIN, THAT ALL WORK IS HONORABLE, THAT WE SERVE GOD AND NEIGHBOR IN WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING AS WELL AS IN OUR WORSHIP.
IT WAS A RADICAL TEACHING BUT TRUE: ALL WORK CAN BE HOLY; GOD CAN BE SERVED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
WORK ITSELF CAN BE WORSHIP, A PARTNERING WITH GOD TO CONTINUE THE WORK OF CREATION, MAKING THE WORLD BETTER.

AND IS IT NOT ALSO PART OF OUR GRATITUDE TO EVERY SO OFTEN STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING TO NOTICE AND APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE WORKING AROUND US, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE EASY TO OVERLOOK --
MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE LABOR KEEPS STABLE THE FABRIC OF THE WORLD.
PEOPLE IN LOW-PAYING JOBS.
THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PICK OUR STRAWBERRIES AND BAG OUR GROCERIES;
WHO CLEAN FLOORS AND DIG DITCHES AND MAINTAIN STREETS;
WHO CHANGE THE OIL IN OUR CARS;
WHO WAIT TABLES AND WASH DISHES AND PICK UP TRASH;
WHO WORK FACTORY JOBS, OFTEN MORE THAN ONE, COMING HOME TO CARE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

IS IT NOT PART OF OUR WORSHIP OF GOD TO NOTICE AND VALUE AND THANK THOSE WHO LABOR -- THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO CARE FOR THE FRAIL ELDERLY,
PROVIDING DIGNITY AND COMFORT AT THE END OF LIFE?
IS NOT PART OF OUR DEVOTION TO NOTICE SMALL THINGS, TO APPRECIATE THE YOUNG PERSON WHO FIXES OUR COFFEE DRINK, TRYING TO SMILE WHEN SHE ASKS, FOR THE THOUSANDTH TIME, "IS THIS FOR HERE OR TO GO," OR "DO YOU NEED ROOM FOR CREAM?"

YES, ALL THESE ARE BEING PAID, AND ALL OF US HAVE HAD TO WORK HARD, BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.
IT HAS TO DO WITH REALIZING HOW MUCH WE NEED EACH OTHER, WITH HONORING ALL WORK, ESPECIALLY THE KIND THAT DOESN'T OFTEN GET NOTICED, BUT WITHOUT WHICH WE COULD NOT GET ALONG.

THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS A TENTMAKER BY TRADE.
TODAY HE'D BE ON AN ASSEMBLY LINE MAKING RVs OR TENT TRAILERS.
HE MAY HAVE MADE HIS TENTS OUT OF FELTED CLOTH WOVEN FROM GOAT'S HAIR, STILL USED BY BEDOUINS TODAY.
OR PAUL MAY HAVE BEEN A LEATHER-WORKER, HIS TENTS MADE FROM ANIMAL HIDES -- WHICH FOR PIOUS JEWS MADE PAUL'S TRADE A LOW-STATUS OCCUPATION, DEALING AS HE DID IMPURE THINGS, THE CARCASSES OF DEAD ANIMALS.

BUT FOR PAUL IT DIDN'T MATTER; HE WAS CONTRIBUTING.
WHEN HE LIVED AMONG THE THESSALONIANS, AS HE SAID, HE WAS SETTING AN EXAMPLE: TO PITCH IN, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO HELP THE COMMUNITY IN WHATEVER WAY HE WAS ABLE.
SOME CHRISTIANS HOWEVER BELIEVED THAT THE LORD'S RETURN WAS IMMINENT, THEREFORE WHY WORK AT ALL?
WHAT WAS THE POINT?
HE'S COMING SOON, JUST LOOK BUSY.

WE WONDER TODAY IF MANY DON'T HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE.
EXCEPT THAT THEIR RELIGION IS SELF.
THEY'RE PROUD TO HAVE BUMPER STICKERS ON THEIR VEHICLES THAT READ, "WE'RE SPENDING OUR CHILDREN'S INHERITANCE."
IT'S THE MIND SET THAT SAYS, "I'VE WORKED HARD ALL MY LIFE; NOW IS MY TIME TO DO WHAT I WANT WITH WHAT I HAVE."

IN THE MEANTIME IN AMERICA, WHILE THE UPPER ECONOMIC CLASSES HAVE BENEFITED HUGELY DURING THIS MOST RECENT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, THOSE AT THE BOTTOM HAVE FOUND THEMSELVES STRUGGLING JUST TO SURVIVE.
SINGLE MOTHERS CHOOSING BETWEEN PAYING OVERDUE BILLS AND FILLING THEIR CHILDREN'S MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS; FATHERS MISSING THEIR FAMILIES IN ORDER TO HOLD DOWN TWO, IF NOT THREE, JOBS.
THE GAP BETWEEN THE RICH AND THE POOR HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER.
37 MILLION AMERICANS ARE LIVING UNDER THE POVERTY LINE; IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE, 300,000 MORE PEOPLE HAVE SLIPPED INTO WHAT THE CENSUS BUREAU CALLS "SEVERE POVERTY," OR ONE-HALF OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED THE POVERTY THRESHOLD -- UNDER $10,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.
AT THIS LEVEL, AMERICANS ARE CAUGHT IN A CYCLE OF POVERTY; THERE ARE FEW WAYS TO GET OUT,
LITTLE CHANCE OF CATCHING A BREAK TO HAVE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

THAT THERE ARE NOT EASY ANSWERS; THE ISSUES ARE ENORMOUS AND COMPLEX; EXPERTS DISAGREE ON SOLUTIONS.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, CAN WE AFFORD TO BE LIKE THE THESSALONIANS WHO THREW UP THEIR HANDS AND, IN EFFECT, SAID "THE LORD IS COMING," "GOD WILL PROVIDE," WHILE NOT LIFTING A FINGER TO HELP THEIR LESS FORTUNATE NEIGHBORS?

WHAT CAN WE DO?
THE INCREASE IN THE CALIFORNIA MINIMUM WAGE IS A START, THOUGH THE BURDEN SHOULD NOT FALL JUST ON BUSINESS OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME.
THE ISSUE OF POVERTY IN OUR COUNTRY CAN'T BE SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM.
CAN WE SEE OURSELVES AS PART OF THE SOLUTION?
IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN TODAY, THE LORD'S DAY, AND TOMORROW, LABOR DAY?

THE FIRST LABOR DAY WAS ON A TUESDAY IN SEPTEMBER, 1882; TWO YEARS LATER, IN 1884, THE FIRST MONDAY WAS SELECTED AS THE HOLIDAY, A "WORKINGMAN'S HOLIDAY," IT WAS DECLARED, WITH PARADES AND SPEECHES TO SHOW FORTH "THE STRENGTH AND (SPIRIT) OF THE TRADE AND LABOR ORGANIZATIONS."
25 YEARS LATER, IN 1909, THE SUNDAY PRECEDING LABOR DAY WAS ADOPTED AS LABOR SUNDAY, DEDICATED TO THE SPIRITUAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE MOVEMENT.

BUT PERHAPS NOW MORE THAN EVER WE CAN AFFIRM AS PEOPLE OF FAITH THAT WE HONOR ALL WHO WORK, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO WORK HARD FOR LITTLE MONEY -- SOME OF THEM OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE DON'T TAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED; WE NOTICE AND VALUE WHAT THEY DO; WE STOP AND SAY THANK YOU.

MORE THAN THIS, WE CONCERN OURSELVES WITH REASONABLE LIVING WAGES FOR WORKERS SO THEY CAN AFFORD FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, AND ACCESS TO ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE.

LABOR SUNDAY IS A DAY FOR GRATITUDE FOR THE WORK WE HAVE AND HAVE HAD; IT IS A DAY FOR REFLECTION ON WHAT IT MEANS TO FOLLOW JESUS IN THIS SPECIAL WAY, THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO CARE FOR THE LEAST OF THESE, HIS CHILDREN.
JESUS WHO WAS HIMSELF A TRADESMAN, A CARPENTER.
HE WORKED WITH HIS HANDS, TOOK PRIDE IN HIS WORK, AND LIVED A SIMPLE LIFE.
WE WONDER HOW THAT LIFE OF LABOR AND EFFORT AND DISCIPLINE SHAPED HIS MINISTRY,
HOW IT AFFECTED HIS COMPASSION FOR ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE OTHERS OVERLOOKED.
HE HEALED PEOPLE PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, SPIRITUALLY; HE HELPED THEM GET BACK INTO THEIR LIVES, BACK ON THEIR FEET.
HE GAVE WHAT HE HAD.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW HIM TODAY?

ROGER LONGORIA IS A SECURITY GUARD AT A SAN FRANCISCO BANK; HE WAS ONE OF FOUR PEOPLE PROFILED IN A PBS PROGRAM THE OTHER NIGHT TITLED "WAGING A LIVING," ABOUT HOW LOW WAGE-EARNING PEOPLE KEEP THEIR HEADS ABOVE WATER, HOW THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE EDGE OF SEVERE POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS.
42 YEARS OLD, ROGER LONGORIA EARNS $12 AN HOUR, LIVING IN ONE ROOM IN A SRO HOTEL.
HIS COURAGE JUST TO KEEP ON GOING WITH ONLY $30-40 DOLLARS IN THE BANK AT ANY TIME IS INSPIRING.
BUT YOU COULDN'T HELP BEING MOVED BY WHAT HE DID ON HIS WALK TO HIS BUS STOP, WHEN HE STOPPED TO GIVE DOLLAR BILLS TO HOMELESS MEN AND WOMEN, CALLING THEM BY NAME, ASKING ABOUT THOSE HE HADN'T SEEN.
YOU'D THINK HE'D LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO SEEMED TO HAVE GIVEN UP ON FINDING WORK, BUT HIS ATTITUDE WAS THE OPPOSITE: HE HAD COMPASSION.
HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE; HE KNEW THE DIFFERENCE IT MADE WHEN OTHERS TOOK TIME TO STOP AND CARE.

THERE IS SOMETHING OF JESUS IN THE PERSON WHO SHARES WHAT HE OR SHE HAS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE LESS.
IT IS A CORE CHRISTIAN CONVICTION: NOT ONLY A CONFIDENCE THAT GOD GIVES US WHAT WE NEED, BUT A CONVICTION AS WELL ABOUT WHY GOD GIVES IT.
IT HAS TO DO WITH LIVING IN COMMUNITY;
IT HAS TO DO WITH CARING.

PAUL PUTS IT PLAINLY WHEN HE WRITES TO THE CORINTHIANS -- AND THERE IS JOY IN HIS WORDS -- "GOD IS ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH EVERY BLESSING IN ABUNDANCE, SO THAT BY ALWAYS HAVING ENOUGH OF EVERYTHING, YOU MAY SHARE ABUNDANTLY IN EVERY GOOD WORK."

GOD PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS!
WE FIND THAT WE MANAGE, THROUGH HARD TIMES, EVEN SCARY TIMES.
IS IT NOT SO THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH OTHERS?
THAT IF WE HAVE ENOUGH, WE HAVE ENOUGH TO GIVE -- AND NOT JUST A LITTLE, NOT CAUTIOUSLY, BUT AS PAUL DECLARES, "ABUNDANTLY IN EVERY GOOD WORK."

WE ALL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMITATE GOD, WHOSE GIVING KNOWS NO ENDING.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE IN THE WORK OF CHRIST, GIVING OF OURSELVES IN EVERY WAY,
EVEN MEETING HIM UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN WE STOP AND CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.

LIKE SO MANY OF HIS FOLLOWERS OVER THE CENTURIES, WE TOO WILL BE SURPRISED.
THEN WITH JOY IN OUR HEARTS, WE WILL SAY: LORD, WHEN WAS IT THAT WE SAW YOU HUNGRY AND GAVE YOU FOOD, OR THIRSTY AND GAVE YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?
AND WHEN WAS IT THAT WE SAW YOU A STRANGER AND WELCOMED YOU, OR NAKED AND GAVE YOU CLOTHING?
AND WHEN WAS IT THAT WE SAW YOU SICK OR IN PRISON AND VISITED YOU?

IT'S NOT JUST WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH THAT WE ENCOUNTER THE LORD, BUT WHEN WE GO OUT.