15 What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by law but by God’s grace? Not at all!
16 Don’t you know that when you give yourselves to obey someone you become that person’s slave? You can be slaves of sin. Then you will die. Or you can be slaves who obey God. Then you will live a godly life. 17 You used to be slaves of sin. But thank God that with your whole heart you obeyed the teachings you were given! 18 You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living. (Romans 6:15-18)
Thoughts: Today is May Day. In northern European and Germanic cultures it is the first day of summer (the summer solstice was "midsummer"). It originally was a pagan holiday. It is also International Worker's Day- a labor holiday. Last year Operation Wall Street and Labor Unions joined together to protest the dismal state of the economy (the good news is that there are not as many protests this year as the economy is doing better). During the Cold War the Veterans of Foreign Wars called this "Americanization Day" as a reaction to socialism in America. Today is also Law Day to celebrate the role of law in the founding of our country.
Often times celebrations of work are also protests of semi-slavery by poor working conditions. It is clear that slavery is oppression, and work is not meant to be slavery. In our day in which we have eliminated the Sabbath- which was a check on hours abuse and slavery (Deut. 5:15), the only check on over-working is breaking down or non-productivity, and some laws against worker abuse. But it is grace toward workers by owners that is needed.
In life, we do not need to live just to work. While work gives meaning to life, hopefully this does not mean when you retire you have no meaning. Our work-even in bad conditions- can be ways to glorify God (Col. 3:23).
What we need are not more laws and regulations- there are always ways for the those in control to get around laws. What we need are kinder more gracious people. We should seek to work for God's grace, and to be ruled by God's grace (see passage above). Grace and human (God inspired) kindness make life great.
Prayer: Thank you for this day, O Lord. It is your day- as all days are. Help me to work in it for your glory. Help me to be more gracious in it.
No comments:
Post a Comment