A Moment for Devotion

At last, the end of the semester is in sight. The time is soon coming when there will be no more assignments to assess, no more reports to write, no more meetings to attend… at least for a few weeks.

As we reflect on the semester that has been, there can be a mixture of emotions: relief, thankfulness, weariness. There may even be a sense of frustration or wondering if all the hard work made much of a difference:

• the conversations with challenging students
• the never-ending pile of assessment and feedback 
• attempts to bring peace and calmness to a heated situation
• encouraging a colleague to give it another go
• putting so much effort into a lesson which the students took for granted.

Sometimes it begs the question: Was it worth it? Did it make a difference?

Jesus often used parables to describe what the kingdom of God is like. In one of them he says a couple times,

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21, 23) 

Jesus’ words remind us that his kingdom isn’t built on big, glitzy achievements, but on the faithfulness of his disciples with the small things.

One of Martin Luther’s contributions to theology was the concept of vocation – God’s calling to use the gifts he has given us to serve the real needs of the world around us. It is in using our gifts to serve that God works through us into the lives of others. So, your vocation, your calling as an educator, as an administrator, as a leader, as a team player is a space where God is already at work through you into the lives of others. We don’t use our gifts to serve in order to win God’s love. We already have his love. Rather, our work, our vocation becomes a means through which God touches the lives of other people.

Just because you might not see the outcome you were hoping for doesn’t mean God wasn’t at work through you. God was very much at work in your turning up and being there. God was at work in your caring conversations, your patient waiting, your gentle encouragement, your silent prayer.

To this Jesus says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things.’

Not ‘perfect servant.’ But faithful servant.

So, as we draw near to the end of semester, hear again those words of thanks and encouragement from Jesus: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’