Wisdom and Work

James 1:17-27; Luke 10:38-42

A sermon by Kathy Toivanen at EMUC, 9/3/2006

Today brings to a conclusion this summer’s sermon series focusing on wisdom. We began our wisdom focus by exploring biblical understandings of wisdom and lifted up a passage from the book of James which said:

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

The book of Proverbs reminded us that wisdom speaks at the crossroads of life, crossroads that are full both of danger and opportunity. And when we are attentive to the wisdom of God speaking to our own hearts and minds, we can take a step forward out of the danger and along a path that leads to life.

The prophet Isaiah reminded us that the Spirit brings wisdom and understanding, direction and strength. Those who embody such gifts of the Sprit don’t judge by appearances or by hearsay. In their wisdom they decide justice for the poor.

And last week we heard the words of the Psalmist who said, "The awe of God is the beginning of wisdom". A wisdom that is shaped by the awe of God is open to the unexpected and surprising hope of God. It is receptive to a God who will stretch and expand our minds and hearts beyond what we ever thought possible.

And last week I ended by sermon with the question:
What would happen if we embraced the notion that each one of us and this congregation of Erin Mills United Church were entrusted and equipped by God’s wisdom to do awesome work.
And so here we are today on Labour Day Sunday looking at the connection between wisdom and work.

Work seems to be both a gift and a curse in our world.
Work is a curse when people labour at a job that brings them no joy, and no meaning.
Work is a curse when working environments are toxic – sometimes toxic because of unreasonable and unethical bosses or colleagues, or sometimes toxic because health and safety precautions are ignored.

Work is certainly a curse where children, who should learning and enjoying recreation and play, are forced by poverty into work to sustain their own lives and the lives of their families.

Of course there are many of us who find meaning and purpose and joy in our work, and yet there are days when we may feel constrained and even overwhelmed by our work. I have talked with many of you who for weeks on end are consumed by your work – held hostage to an unreasonable schedule - unable to get the rest and sleep you need, unable to engage in ordinary everyday relationships with family or friends, unable to nourish your spirit or your body with exercise, play, prayer and worship.

I think it is telling that the most common response I get from people when I mention that I have missed seeing them at worship is that Sunday has become their only day to crash after a busy work week. It has become the only day to sleep in, the only day to do the usual household errands and chores; sadly often the only day to connect with family members. And so taking time to join the faith community to commune with and worship God is forfeited.

There are even those among us who take no time off from work – Some live with the implied threat that if they take time off on Sunday then they may as well not come into work on Monday

And with all the technology we have available to us wherever we are, many of us can do our work anywhere and anytime. That even goes for the work of the church!
I’ve had more than one email arrive on my server after midnight, which of course begs the question, what am I doing on the computer, attending to the work of the church at such an hour!

The Psalm writer declares that God’s works are to be praised. The act of praise to God is really what our life’s work is to be about. Work that exhausts us, leaves us no time to tend to the important relationships in our lives and neglects opportunities to be in communion with the very one who creates us is not the work we are called to. It is obvious that we all need words of wisdom to restore us to work that praises God’s awesome work in each one of us and in creation.

As I read over the scripture passages in preparation for today’s service I was struck by a common message in the letter of James and the gospel of Luke.

From the letter of James:

Whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action.

And from the gospel of Luke:

Martha was distracted by her many tasks…and Jesus answered Martha – Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing…

Jesus’ words to Martha could easily be said to anyone of us.
You are worried and distracted by many things.

Let’s remember the context of the story. Jesus was a friend of Martha and Mary and on his travels he stopped on day at their home. Likely his arrival drew others to their home and along with Mary they sat down with Jesus to listen to his stories and teachings about life.

But not Martha – she is bustling around in the background occupied with many tasks – fussing and worrying and missing an opportunity, right there in her midst, to be in the company of the one who can reveal to her the heart of the wisdom of God.

I believe that this story is a something of a parable for us. It is an invitation to us to walk away from the distractions that do nothing but tire us out, irritate our spirits and worry us to death. The story is a reminder that in order to live well, in order to work well, in order to find delight and affirmation in our actions, we need to focus on one thing.

And what is that focus? It is to take time to dwell in the presence of Christ so that we can attend first and foremost to the wisdom and counsel of God. And if we don’t, we are going to spend our lives scatterbrained, overwhelmed with work that does not satisfy; work that has little connection with the word of God rooted deep within each on us. For it is this word of God that each one of us is called upon to nurture and grow through our life’s work.

James reminds us that we are called to be ‘doers’ of God’s word. But in order to be faithful doers, it is crucial to take the time to listen deeply and to train our inner ear to hear the voice of God speaking in our lives.

James is quite clear – we are to act on what we hear.
That means we need time in our lives to listen to the voice of God. And we cannot do that if we are always occupied, always moving on to the next task, always distracted with the next worry or problem to solve. In order to listen well, we have to stop, to just be, to let go.

Try this simple experiment some time. On a day when you are frazzled by the work you are about, do whatever you can to take a break – even 10 minutes if that is all you can grab. Stop, take time to breathe deeply, close your eyes. You may choose to offer some simple words that move to the rhythm of your breathing:

Be still/and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)

For God alone/I wait in silence (Psalm 62:1)

Breathe on me/breath of God (hymn)

Fill me/with life anew (hymn)
You may be surprised to discover that by regular practice of this exercise that you are able to lessen the distractions and that you are better able to hear the voice of wisdom and gain a new clarity of what is really important in your work and life.

Listening to the counsel of God also happens in the company of others. I can’t tell you how important it is for me and for the work that I do, to be with colleagues and friends where we take time to discern God’s wisdom together through conversation, silence and prayer.

When groups and committees of this congregation gather to do their work, they are provided with an opening to their meeting, creatively called a "meeting start." The opening includes lighting a candle to recognize the light of Christ among them; listening to God’s word in scripture; reflecting together on its meaning for them and the church; and concluding with a prayer of thanks and direction. Sometimes I am questioned by committee or group members who wonder if we can afford to take the time for this meeting start in light of the ‘work’ that must be accomplished. My response is, can we afford not to take the time? If we do not take time to listen to and to attend to the word of God, how can we do the work of God?

Perhaps if we took more time to listen to and discern God’s wisdom, we would waste less time in actions that distract us from the work that we really need to be about in God’s name. Perhaps we would find more delight and affirmation in our actions.

And so I’d like to offer to all of us a suggestion that we make time in our day to follow the pattern of a ‘meeting start’.

So upon rising or at the end of the day, or at a regular time during the day, we pause. We light a candle and welcome the light of Christ. We read a passage of scripture and take time to let its meaning percolate. We sit in some silence and conclude with prayer.

It is often helpful to have a guide to follow and there are many such resources available both in book form and on the internet.
You can always take the scripture readings for each Sunday and read and reflect on them throughout the week.
You may also choose to attend any of the fellowship, study and discussion groups offered here throughout the year as a way to reflect with others.

For many of us, Labour Day weekend means an end of vacation and a return to a variety of forms of work. In the wisdom of God, we are called to be about work that praises God, work that brings delight and affirmation to us and God’s people everywhere. May God’s wisdom continue to guide us in such work. Amen.