A Life in Exile

I was hesitant to apply for the position of Branch Manager at my local library but was encouraged by a staff member. I’d been volunteering for several months, in hopes of snagging a part-time position. I didn’t know if I had the qualifications for the full-time leadership role, as I did not have the typically required Masters in Library and Information Studies. I had a minor in Library Science from college, and had worked in libraries my entire life, but the last twenty years of my life were in missionary service. Even so, I worked to help some libraries overseas as well, and I supervised colleagues in various roles. Was I skilled enough for this job? Though I wasn’t the first choice, I did end up with the job. Upon my hiring, I was required to go through some more training. Skills were acquired in time that were perhaps lacking at the onset of my twelve-year career.

Do we take as seriously our need to be skilled workers for the Kingdom of God? The short answer is no. The long answer is Nooooo. (Sorry, I had to share that, as it was a funny joke I heard recently). Still, it’s true. Most people who put their faith in Christ stop at the point of conversion and say, “That’s it, I did my part and believed. I’ve got my free pass for eternity, and now I can just kick back and live any way I want to, knowing Jesus has my back.” I see nothing in Scripture to back up this attitude, and most of the New Testament writers had something to say about it.

Why do we need to be skilled workers for the Kingdom?

For the Good News of the Kingdom to be shared and for that Kingdom to expand, God the Father relies on his people, the Chosen, to be his ambassadors. If we don’t know the message we’re sharing or living by the principles of what the Word teaches, then we are not reflecting Christ to a lost and dying world. We’re also not able to distinguish the evil from the good.

The writer of the book of Hebrews talked about how Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. Obedience to the Father takes an effort on our part. Christ’s obedience led to the cross. Our obedience is to take up our crosses and follow him. Laziness hinders obedience. Here’s what he says about it.

We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14 CSB)

Just as babies grow from drinking milk to eating solid food, the Christian grows in his knowledge and understanding of Christ by digging deep into the Word and applying it to his or her life. The meat-eating Christian also knows the urgency of sharing the gospel, because they are more aware of the ways of the evil one.

What does it take to become a skilled worker?

For my work at the library, I gained skills through study, practical trainings, and experience. When I think about those first twelve disciples or students of Jesus, I read how they lived in close relationship with their rabbi for three full years. They watched him interact with others, listened to his preaching, had personal lessons and opportunities to ask questions, and they were sent out on their own to practice what they’d heard him say and do. This apprenticeship experience is what allowed twelve (which became eleven plus Matthias) men of questionable early skill levels to impact the world for Christ.

Thankfully, we know that the boost of the Spirit’s power in them helped them to be bold in taking what they’d learned and put it into practice. We have that same Spirit. Though they were not theologians, neither were they blank slates. That’s the beauty of the Spirit’s work in us. Even when our knowledge of truth is limited, he can take it and use it to his glory. Remember Apollos. He was boldly preaching, but only knew up to John’s baptism. Thankfully, Aquilla and Priscilla came alongside him and added to his knowledge base of truth. By increasing his skills, he grew into an even more effective witness for Jesus.

Milk or meat?

The writer of Hebrews was frustrated with believers who seemed satisfied with milk over meat. The problem with that way of life is that it leaves Christians missing the abundant life Christ makes available to those who grow in him and walk in obedience to his teaching. Milk Christians miss out! So the writer says,

Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity…Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance. (Hebrews 6:1, 11-12)

From the earliest days in the garden, God’s desire for mankind is to be fruitful and multiply. He repeated this command over and over again throughout the ages. Though we often only apply this to an increase in family size, it’s also a spiritual mandate reflected in our call to “go and make disciples.” Just as Abraham obtained the promise through his faith and obedience, we too can be part of the increase of God’s family by the same obedience and faith.

Will we put more effort into becoming skilled workers for earthly causes that do not last or put most of our efforts into the work that cannot burn up but endures forever? I worked for twelve years as a librarian and retired. That work is no more. What job assignment never ends? The cause of Christ.

May he find us all skilled workers, faithfully serving to the increase of his kingdom, till the day of his return.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on service: Walking in His Love: A Study of John’s Letters, 7, Scattered Seed, and Serving the One They Want to Kill.