I’m a lyric person. Most of the songs I like have amazing lyrics, and that’s why I pick them. And the good harmonies of course. But I mostly hone in on the lyrics. That’s why I love hymns (and the amazing harmonies!). All of the hymns we sing have wonderful, heart-pricking lyrics. Some of my favorites include Abide With Me, Christ We Do All Adore Thee, and Just As I Am.
Recently, we sang the song I Want to Be a Worker for the Lord. As I always do (and we should always do), I really thought about the words I was singing, and I asked myself if I really did want to be a worker. When we sang this line, I had to do a recheck:
“and be busy every day in the vineyard of the Lord”
When we were in El Salvador, I really was busy every day in the vineyard of the Lord. I was up early, walking the streets all day, then back to the “hotel” to take a shower and eat. Then repeat the process for 7 days. When I got back, I went back to normal…not busy every second of my day for the Lord. Instead, I was busy part of some days for the Lord, and other days I was busy doing whatever I wanted. Or just busy.
This song steps on my toes for a host of reasons, the first having to do with my priorities. Is it my prayer to be busy for the Lord every day? If I’m honest, sometimes I tire of all of the events we’re doing for the Lord. But that’s a sinful attitude to have, and one I need to correct. The next problem I have with this is, am I busy with the Lord’s work? We all claim we’re busy, but am I truly busy for the Lord?
Revelation 14:13 says this,
Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me,“Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”
The entire point of my Christian existence is to be busy for the Lord. Not to relax and rest and wait around for someone else to do it. We were all created for good works (Eph. 2:10) and if we know to do good but don’t do it, it’s sin (James 4:17).
Am I giving my every day to the Lord? Am I busy doing work in His vineyard? I feel like these are valid questions that we need to examine often. If you are one of those people (and I know them, so you very well could be!) who are busy doing your Father’s business, I so commend you, and ask that you’ll tell me how you do it! I do, honestly, want to be a worker for the Lord. I do want to be busy every day in His service. Let us all strive to encourage one another in this Christian race, that we will all have the endurance to keep doing what we’re called to do…which is to labor and toil and work. And one day, we can all rest together. But not today. Today, we work.
Trabaja everyone! (or at least all my El Salvador peeps!)
