Beware of Perishables

And they say unto him, “We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.” He said, “Bring them hither to me.” And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. (Matthew 14 17:19)

On my return home to Ottawa, my visit with Ivan McGee showed me that God had been a good to him. He had just moved into a $50,000 house with 5 bedrooms and five baths. However, he said to me, “I have been really low. I have been a Christian all my life and now at 50 I am physically spun out. My health is gone. Why has God done this to me?”

At that moment, I understood the text before us in its contemporary meaning. Jesus had just performed the miracle of the loaves. He had just fed the 5,000. Then, he crossed the lake to find seclusion. However, the crowd followed him. Jesus was not impressed with the great multitude. In fact, he was deeply hurt. They were following him only for what they could get out of him. He said, “You seek me only for the chance of loaves and fishes.” These were the byproducts of his coming. If he would be a judge and a divider of material things, he could increasingly share with them. If he would give them loaves and fishes, they could have better homes, higher wages, more wares, more gadgets and more work. They could add to their leisure and have more things worth having. They follow him for these worldly things, but who wants the spiritual gifts? 

In his disappointment, Jesus turned to the “bread and fishes” followers and said, “Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the meat which will endure into everlasting life.” Who here has filled themselves on bread today? On this Labor Day, I would like to make these words of Jesus come alive for you. 

My observation is that in America, there is a new economic climate that is booming, but the emphasis is on “bread and fishes” rewards. I see a bunch of people who are really doing well, but do not know what to do with all their money. I see a society with many strange contradictions. There is much idleness and a disparate wealth distribution. In some areas, there are many on relief, while a few hours away fruit is rotting on the tree. In our area, there is the most fantastic growth and prosperity ever. 

One tragedy of our day is that more people stumble into livelihood than discover a vocation. One survey says that 52% of the people employed in America are unhappy with their work. In a conversation with a young person about what he wants to do, he says his dad tells him to do anything but not what he does. We are fast discovering that skills and paychecks are not enough. Man craves recognition and a meaningful vocation. The word vocation comes from the Latin word “voco” that means “I call” or a calling, to be called by God to a job. 

The biblical clue is in the Hebrew word “ABAD”. This word is translated both as work and worship in the Old Testament. There is a direct connection between what we do on our Sunday morning and our Monday morning. Someone has challenged the phrase “the service of worship”. We say, “Service begins when worship ends.” 

Biblically there is a dignity given to work. The Bible begins with God the worker at the end of six days God finished his work, rested and saw it was good. I wish I knew more about Jesus the Carpenter. Jesus could say, “My father is working, and I am working.” The psalmist could say, “man goes forth to his work and to his labor until evening.” I remember speaking with a contractor who slid his hand over a rough door. I knew he was unhappy with the unfinished job. 

There is a thrill in creativity. Paul could say, “Let the thief no longer steal but rather let him labor doing honest work with his hands so that he may be able to give to those in need.” A grumbling, duty bound John Wesley stumbled into the ministry on a boat. 

Explore the possibilities in your own jobs. The teacher, the welder, and the carpenter, “Will anything do to just get by?” The carpenter who makes inferior shelves is cursing God as much as the man who wastes his paycheck. The architect who constantly creates construction that is ugly because he is unwilling to learn or immune to beauty is mocking God as much as man who takes God’s name in vain. The farmer who exploits his soil is as guilty of irreverence to life as the reckless driver. The physician new though ignorance or indifference to his patients’ bodies is as guilty of defamation as the man who beats his wife to a pulp. A minister who gives his people shavings from the sacred workbench is as guilty as misappropriation of time is the laborer who leans on his shovel or is the professor who uses the same notes year after year. 

Tolstoy said, “The truly happy man is one who works with his head, his hands and his heart.” Every Christian should think of himself as a Christian worker. G.K. Chesterton talked about the artist who walked by an ugly building every day to his studio. The sight of the monstrosity jarred him. He eventually bought the house, moved in, revamped it and made it a work of beauty. I wish one could go to their daily task with the enthusiasm of a bride and groom arranging, decorating and furnishing their first house. 

We also must be a witness in our daily work. We think of the Afrikaner veldt-owner in South Africa who held the Bible in one hand and a whip the other. Was this person living the teachings of Jesus?

There is the new boss who comes into the office. Within a month, the whole attitude and consciousness changed for the better. He was a people-conscious leader. Our Christian life shows through most on Monday through Friday. Teacher, how much of the concern of Christ permeates your classroom? Machinist, how much of the spirit of Christ develops on your workbench? 

Finally, is the fruit of our labor money, leisure and our standing in the community? What about the person who provides for his family and gives hours of his time teaching swimming to children in the neighborhood? How about the people put in their time on the school board, YMCA or voluntary boards who bring in their witness of faith? There was a recent Urban League meeting where the question was asked, “Why do we not get more support from the churches?” Dean Hickory asked for the church members attending to raise their hands. 

There are many opportunities within the church to serve. As a boy, I used to preach. I always remember Pearl White saying, “I was converted in one of Art Schwabe’s meetings.” I remember John Baker saying, “Art Schwabe helped me so much, when I was young.” Cast your bread on the water, and it will return in many ways. I think of Gladys Ireland, the tireless Church school teacher, who taught children who now live all over the world and are touched by Christ. I think of the missionaries my mother supports. I work in the church very closely with someone who has been a nursery teacher. The children are now grown and come by and say hello. Early on they found a little bit of love in their life. 

Jesus said, “You seek me only for the loaves and fishes. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the meat that endures into everlasting life.”