Albert Kang tells a wonderful story about two brothers who had a falling out and then a reunion. It seems that…
Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day - measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."
As we come to the end of the summer and celebrate Labor Day, we take a little time to relax and to fellowship with our families and our friends. Hopefully, as we do, we will also reflect on the labor to which we devote a significant portion of our lives.
Whether that labor involves farming or trading or constructing or transporting or financing or communicating or any number of other worthwhile endeavors, I trust we all see that our ultimate objective is to use our labor here in this world to build bridges and bring people together rather than to tear them apart.
Obviously, from the Christian perspective, the carpenter in this particular story represents Jesus Christ, who was known as the son of a carpenter in the little village of Nazareth where He grew to manhood. But in reality, He was infinitely more. He was the one and only Son of God, Who came into this world to restore our broken relationships with our Heavenly Father and with our earthly brothers and sisters.
In that sense, the work He undertook to do while in this world was above all else a work of redemption. Our work in this world should serve the same purpose. For if and when it does, it then becomes work with eternal significance.
I conclude by wishing you all a happy Labor Day. But even as I do, I remind you that Jesus knew the work He was called by God to do. He therefore undertook to do that work well. And thus, I also ask: "What, then, is the work God has called you and me to do?" Whatever it is, I trust it will ultimately be redemptive. I trust also that we will approach it with the same passion and fervor as our Lord did His own work. For only then will we ever truly be happy in our labor.
ILLUSTRATION SOURCE: https://aksermonillustrations.blogspot.com/search?q=labor+day.
Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.
Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.
One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"
"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."
The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."
The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day - measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.
The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched.
"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."
The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.
"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."
As we come to the end of the summer and celebrate Labor Day, we take a little time to relax and to fellowship with our families and our friends. Hopefully, as we do, we will also reflect on the labor to which we devote a significant portion of our lives.
Whether that labor involves farming or trading or constructing or transporting or financing or communicating or any number of other worthwhile endeavors, I trust we all see that our ultimate objective is to use our labor here in this world to build bridges and bring people together rather than to tear them apart.
Obviously, from the Christian perspective, the carpenter in this particular story represents Jesus Christ, who was known as the son of a carpenter in the little village of Nazareth where He grew to manhood. But in reality, He was infinitely more. He was the one and only Son of God, Who came into this world to restore our broken relationships with our Heavenly Father and with our earthly brothers and sisters.
In that sense, the work He undertook to do while in this world was above all else a work of redemption. Our work in this world should serve the same purpose. For if and when it does, it then becomes work with eternal significance.
I conclude by wishing you all a happy Labor Day. But even as I do, I remind you that Jesus knew the work He was called by God to do. He therefore undertook to do that work well. And thus, I also ask: "What, then, is the work God has called you and me to do?" Whatever it is, I trust it will ultimately be redemptive. I trust also that we will approach it with the same passion and fervor as our Lord did His own work. For only then will we ever truly be happy in our labor.
ILLUSTRATION SOURCE: https://aksermonillustrations.blogspot.com/search?q=labor+day.