Will Work For [some kind of] Food

In our hearts, I think we know that things are not really all that important.  And most of the time, we do a fair job of being detached from our stuff.  We know there are more important things than our possessions – until something happens to one of our biggest, best, or most expensive things.

As you read the next few paragraphs, keep in mind that I love my wife – keep it in mind especially if you are my wife.

With a couple of small kids around the house, things can be a little stressful.  You know, because you’ve been in our shoes.  And I’ve learned that while a newborn is present in the home, things can be a little edgy.  It might not take much to set one – or both – of us off.  Such is life, I guess.  A few days ago, things were going pretty well.  Alesha was about to go to the store, and she was taking Eli (newborn) with her.  It was going to be a good time for Easton (3 year old) and me, because I really had not been giving him enough attention.  Again, such is life with a newborn.

Let me set the scene for you.  Alesha’s car was in the garage and mine was behind her’s, so she asked me to move mine before she went to the store.  I did.  Her path out of the garage was clear as day.

Somehow, though, she loaded up, buckled Eli in, and backed right into my Jeep.  No damage to mine, but you can now see her driving around town with a busted back bumper and a nice dent in the trunk.  Again, such is life.

I’d like to think that in general, I’m pretty separated from things.  I know there is much more to life than the stuff that I own.  That is, until something happens to one of those things that belongs to me – like a wrecked car.  When something like that happens, it’s hard to remember Jesus’ call to be separated from what we own and work for.

Let me share with you two statements made of the exact same words but with completely different meanings.

Your life is work.  No doubt about it, that’s a true statement. With all the hassles and roadblocks on the path of life, our existence isn’t an easy one, especially if we’re set on following the footsteps of Jesus.  Of course, His teachings are simple, but living them isn’t (He had some words about this in Matthew 7:13-14).

Work is your life. Now, most of us would disagree with that statement with our words and thoughts.  Deep down, we know that our life is made up of a lot more than the hours we log on the job.  But, do our actions back up our words and thoughts?  We’d like to think so, but the reality is that our actions tell a completely different story.  Our behaviors really suggest that work is #1 on our priority lists.

Not a comforting thought, is it?  In fact, you might even be a little angry at the thought of somebody telling you that you are treating your life as if work is the most important thing.  That’s okay, I guess.  It’s a hard truth to swallow, but Jesus’ message to the overworked was essentially that life consists of much more than all this stuff we see.

John 6:27

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.

There are only 2 real responses to this kind of message.

• You can can resist the teaching. These aren’t my words, they are Jesus’.  And you have the chance to agree with it or not.  You can resist it, refuse to accept it or believe it, and neglect it in the affairs of your daily life.  That’s the easy way.
• You can humbly submit to Jesus’ message. Sure, it might be new and different to you.   It might fly in the face of our culture and all your friends.  People might think you’re crazy when they see the tangible results in your life, but that’s okay – that’s part of following Jesus.

His message was simple – quit worrying about and working for the stuff that doesn’t matter.  Focus on what’s real and the things with eternal rewards and consequences.  Those are the only things that matter, and anything less is perishing.  Or, in Jesus’ language, quit working for the perishable kind food, and start working for the kind that will endure forever.