Back to work
‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into the harvest.’ (Matthew 9:37)
Dear Friends,
September is a month when many people return back to work following summer holidays, rested and ready for the challenges of the year ahead. School children, and their teachers, college students and their lecturers gather to begin a new academic year, often with a sense of trepidation but also excitement. Others are glad to return to work and be with colleagues again. Bible studies, prayer meetings, luncheon clubs and many other activities that have been closed during the summer months gather again to begin new programmes.
For some people September is also a time of starting new jobs. All of us have known what it is like to arrive in a new place eager to start a new task with energy and enthusiasm. I am sure that we will all want to pass on our very best wishes to anyone who is taking on new jobs at this time of the year. May they be given the wisdom and the vison to make a success of their new tasks.
The quote from Matthew’s gospel which I began this article reminds us that Jesus knew how onerous some of the tasks are that we are called to complete in God’s kingdom. There are times when we are asked to take on tasks that we find extremely difficult, and we wonder how we will cope. This is the experience of so many in the life of the church as they are called to be preachers, teachers, treasurers or property stewards. At these times we need to be reminded that none of the tasks we do in God’s service are done alone. We work as part of the body of Christ alongside others who have received the same calling and whose gifts and abilities will help us to make a success of the tasks we have taken on. Most importantly we work under the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit who will inspire and guide us all to work for his praise and glory.
As we return from holidays and go back work, and the life of our churches, may we be enriched by the warm friendly Christian fellowship that we find, and may we be given the strength and the confidence to rise to the many tasks God call us to perform, this day and forevermore.
Yours sincerely,
Richard