1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

I haven’t read these books since the eighties. But, when I read today’s lesson from 1 Thessalonians, a story from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy popped right into my brain. In the second book of Douglas Adams’ humorous sci-fi series, the intrepid space travelers, Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect hitch a ride on Ark B of the Golgafinchan fleet. They’ve beamed into the cargo hold where they find thousands of sarcophagi containing humanoids in suspended animation. Each one is listed by occupation; a hairdresser here, an ad executive there, service specialists and middle managers every where. One of them is listed as a Telephone Sanitizer.

A security guard takes them to the bridge for questioning by the Captain who it turns out is much more interested in his bath than questioning intruders. In a very whimsical conversation our heroes learn that the bodies below are one third Golgafinchan race on it’s way to colonize a new planet since their old one was about to be eaten by a galactic space goat. They have been on this journey for about five years now. “Funny,” says the Captain, “we haven’t heard a peep out of the other ships.”

Later, Ford and Arthur find out the rest of the Golgafinchans fleet never took off. They all stayed on old planet living happy and fulfilled lives without all those service people and middle management types in their way. They lived happily that is until they were decimated by a virus contracted from a dirty telephone.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “… we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Paul wrote this affectionate letter around 50 CE to praise the community for its steadfast hope and consistent behavior. But in the last two chapters of this book, Paul admonishes them to continue and improve in a range of areas. Perhaps the Thessalonians were temped to value some occupations over others and as a result, some people over others, as we are today.

Labor and money have been on my mind lately as I am sure it has been with most of you. Most of us here know what’s it’s like to search for our calling and shape our lives around it. Many of us left comfortable careers to start over in one that may not compensate as well financially. Hopefully, most people we encounter will respect our choice.

It probably won’t be like that for our future parishioners. Some may be highly-paid power brokers, while others may have no employment at all. And, as a force of our cultural habits, we will probably learn what they do for a living long before we learn anything else about them. I hope we can refrain from judging them accordingly and help them become aware their hidden gifts and talents because it could be a matter of helping them find their hearts and treasures. It could help them discern whether they are serving God or mammon.

I had a friend in college who used to drive me crazy. He was a business & finance major and what he saw in my gang of artsy-types, I’ll never know. But, we took him in all the same.

During the farmer’s strikes and foreclosures of the 80s, I remember him ranting once at a party. “I don’t see what the big deal is,” he exclaimed. “If it’s not profitable then quit doing it! Go find something else to do that pays!”

Of course, this led me to ask, “What they all quit? Who would grow our food?”

“There’s still corporate farming.” he said. “Much more profitable. Family farms are inefficient. The world has changed, they need to get on board!”

Before my eyes he had morphed into Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

For some, I explained, the family farm is more than a job, it’s a way of life. Besides, I argued, what if it’s their calling?

“Calling!” he exclaimed giving me a wave of dismissal.

“…respect those who labor among you… Esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Not too long after that an old friend from high school finished an accounting degree with honors and landed a job with what was then one the top accounting firms in the country.

A few months into the job, he called me. “I can’t believe the extreme competition in this place,” he said. “It’s like…there’s no team. Everyone’s competing for a partner track position. My so-called colleagues would sooner stab me in the back as look at me. And, look at the partners, they have no lives! They’re always here working all the time. And, it’s not like we have to drum up the business. We’ve got more business then we can handle. In fact, they want us to “un load” some of our less profitable clients.”

I did not know at the time, but I was about to learn somethings about pastoral care. I assured my friend that he was not a lazy slob because he wasn’t willing to spend every waking moment at the office. He wasn’t a communist or a coward because he craved a little bit of teamwork and camaraderie. And, that he wasn’t a whimp because he felt uneasy over the way some clients were being treated.

“I am making big bucks,” he said. “But, my condo has no furniture because I don’t have time to shop for any. My hot little sports car needs a front-end alignment and transmission work, but I don’t’ have the time to deal with that either. I don’t even have time to go to the doctor to deal with this cough I’ve had for three weeks!” he moaned before he broke into another coughing fit.

More months flew by and another phone call.

“I had a monstrous day at work today,” he said. “I got reamed for advising a client to pay a tax,”

“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” I asked rather naively.

“Apparently not,” he said. “This client (a corporation) has this miniscule tax bill so they called us to get them out of it. I am almost certain there’s no way I can get them out this, plus my billable hours alone are going to cost them more than just paying the stupid tax. I just couldn’t in good conscience advice them to do otherwise.”

“Sounds reasonable to me,” I said.

“Well, my supervisor didn’t think so. He told me it wasn’t my place to advice the clients to that. He said my job is to do whatever the client wants regardless of whether it’s in the client’s best interests.”

“So what happens if you really can’t get them out of the tax?” I asked.

“Then we just tell them tough luck and hand them the bill for my hours.” He said. “So then they’ll be out the tax, plus my hours.”

We talked some more about the situation and my friend continued to wonder whether this job was the right one for him. It wasn’t that he couldn’t do the job, it was more a matter of whether he wanted to.

“You know what I would really like to do,” he said. “Back in college, I used to help low-income people do their tax forms. I’d save some people tons of money. Sometimes they’d be so grateful they’d want to name their kids after me. I want to go do something where my work is appreciated and I don’t feel like I’m cheating anybody.”

“…respect those who labor among you… Esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Now, I am not telling you these tales to dump on corporate America. I know there are plenty of good, honest business people out there. But, our culture seems to value tycoon over the tender heart, the robber-baron over the ethical businessman. Those we minister to have to face this every day and many go about it with out much in the way of respect. Many of our society’s most important jobs are not given their due and the people who feel called to them are sometimes rolled up, burned out and thrown away. “Aren’t making enough?” They’re asked. “Then go do something that pays better.”

As Paul admonished the Thessalonians, so do I admonish you to encourage those whom you serve in their labors. Remind them of Christ’s love for them. Help them recognize the gifts and talents and pray for them without ceasing.

By the way, my friend moved on to much more fulfilling work and every tax season he continues to help others with their tax returns.

May we all continue to perceive God’s callings for us! Amen.