“The Practical Side Of Religion”

“I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live, and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 

“The Christian life is preeminently a life of service. That is its highest and broadest purpose. To try to be a Christian merely for the joy that is to be found in it is often to render ourselves miserable. Idealism has its place in life, but it must not close our eyes to the practical side of life. Learn to enjoy the toil. Learn to find the sweetness that is in it. Learn to find the beauty in the common things of life, for some of the most common things are among the most beautiful when our eyes are taught to see their beauty. To seek happiness for ourselves as the chief end of life is a very unworthy purpose, and is one that can but end in disappointment. See that you do your part in life in the every-day things, and God will permit you to live on the mountain as he sees best. Appreciate the mountain experiences when they come, but do not let them make you despise the common things.” (C.W. Naylor, “Heart Talks”, p. 184)

There is a practical side to all things – and all things practical do not bring to us glamour or recognition. In the church, there is plenty that happens that few people notice, few people think about, and few people even care that someone is doing it. They just expect that it will be done, and there will be hell to pay if someone forgets. These things do not bring anyone glory – but they do bring satisfaction that it is done for the comfort or the necessity of a job well done. For example, someone needs to vacuum the Nave and make sure the heat or air conditioning is scheduled to come on before the services.

Not everyone is called to preach – not everyone is called to play the organ, the guitar or the piano for worship. But for the church to function, there is a weekly grind that happens so the bulletin is done, the altar is prepared, and the coffee hour is staffed.

Just because the work does not bring recognition does not mean that G-d does not see the joy that people feel for doing the little things, the uninteresting things, and the drudgery of church-life. The same is true in our daily, secular lives. G-d blesses those practical Christians, people who are willing to do the work even if it means weariness, or a lack of emotion, and especially if it requires sacrifice. Just because our faithfulness seems to fall upon blind eyes, our Lord sees all that we do, for the glory of G-d, and for the practical side of life – and the Lord blesses us for it. As the writer of Ecclesiastes states: “…everyone should find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.”

Pastor Dave