Called to Work

March 20, 2026

From Pastor Joseph Wamack

A farmer, who owned a large farm with large, healthy crops of corn, soybeans and strawberries, received a visit from his pastor one day. The farmer came in from the fields to sit with the pastor on the porch and enjoy a glass of lemonade. As they sat and looked over the lush green fields and the barn full of goods, the pastor commented on how beautiful and bountiful the farmer’s fields were. The pastor concluded his compliment with “God has certainly blessed you with beautiful crops and a wonderful farm.” “Yes, He has,” the farmer acknowledged, but then added, “but you should have seen this place before I started helping God out around here. It was a mess!”

Jesus said many interesting things during his time on earth. The following verses have always intrigued me and given me hope and purpose:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26) 

This text says birds don’t sow or reap, but God cares for them and feeds them. I have never seen the hand of God reach down and put food in a bird’s beak. But I have seen birds busy, picking up worms or bugs. They appear to be doing the work by themselves, yet this passage says God provides. So it gives me questions to ponder:

Is it possible God is doing something only God can do-which is providing-and yet, while God is providing, there is still a work and responsibility for people to do?

Is it possible God works daily miracles through the power of the human spirit which He breathed into us and through the sweat of our own hands?

Did God bless the farmer with a nice farm and crops, while at the same time, the farmer used sweat equity to make it happen?

Do the divine and human cooperate? To me, the answer is most decidedly yes.

Laziness, complacency or assumption are not traits that lead to health, life or growth. God provides opportunities and then we are called to handle the opportunities which He has provided. Through His power and His grace, we handle them-yes! But the sweat, the discipline, the work is ours. And that too is a blessing from God. We are co-laborers with the Master in His Vineyard. Work hard and give God the praise! Working together with God and together with our MAC brothers and sisters is a privilege and a calling, Church!