{"id":1921,"date":"2011-05-18T10:11:10","date_gmt":"2011-05-18T16:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/?p=1921"},"modified":"2011-05-18T10:11:10","modified_gmt":"2011-05-18T16:11:10","slug":"sermon-follow-up-work-unto-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.desertspringschurch.org\/blog\/2011\/05\/sermon-follow-up-work-unto-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"Sermon Follow-up: “Work unto the Lord”"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Sunday’s sermon, “Work unto the Lord<\/a>,” Ryan preached from Colossians 3:22-4:1<\/a>, where Paul addresses the relationship between slaves and masters. In the first half of his message, Ryan developed three points at length to clarify what Paul did and did not mean by addressing “slaves” and “masters”:<\/p>\n

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  1. Roman slavery was not exactly the same thing as American slavery<\/li>\n
  2. These categories (slave\/master) are descriptive not prescriptive<\/li>\n
  3. What is<\/em> prescriptive in this passage goes beyond cultural norms<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Both are image bearers. In God’s sovereignty, both have a unique station in life. Both have the same Master in heaven. Both are serving the Lord Christ.<\/p>\n

    We do well to understand the meaning of “slaves” and “masters” in Paul’s context and\u00c2\u00a0listening to Ryan<\/a> develop his three points will help. But we can’t miss the significance of Paul’s instructions for us<\/em>. In our immediate context, this text speaks into the boss\/employee relationship, even if the\u00c2\u00a0parallel\u00c2\u00a0is not exact. In whatever our station, we are to work obediently, honorably, heartily, worshipfully, expectantly, and with love.<\/p>\n

    But Paul’s\u00c2\u00a0instructions\u00c2\u00a0also speak to our concept of vocation itself. In his article, “Hands On,” Doug Wilson thoughtfully fills out Bible’s teaching on the essential dignity of all work:<\/p>\n

    All craftsmanship, diligence, and hard-working hands are from the Lord. The work might be close and tight, like cunning embroidery, or it might take place on a large and grand scale, like designing and building a suspension bridge. . . . Hands on the keyboard writing a poem or a novel. Hands framing a house. Hands on a drafting table, designing the next\u00c2\u00a0generation\u00c2\u00a0of space shuttle. Hands under the hood of a car. Hands creating a glorious watercolor. Hands\u00c2\u00a0ministering\u00c2\u00a0to the sick. Hands picking up the living room. Hands making love. Hands holding a scalpel and removing a tumor. Hands skillfully typesetting a book. Hands pushing a lawn mower. Hands buttoning up a small child’s coat. Hands cutting hair. Hands cradling a hunting rifle. Hands arranging a table setting and bringing a platter of hot food. Hands positioned perfectly on a basketball while playing “horse” in the driveway. Hands laying brick. . . . We are to give ourselves to handiwork because we are<\/em> His handiwork.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    On the subject of vocation, we recommend the following books:<\/p>\n