Towards the end of school term, Laura seems to pick up casual work at the boy's school. In Australia "casual" work means you are not under a contract and do not have regularly set hours. After volunteering for years in the library or uniform shop, sometimes she will receive a call to come in and work for pay. It seems Laura has become a useful person to call when school staff is sick or on leave. She is able to slot into many roles on short notice, recently helping out in Food Tech. Lately it has been about eight hours spread across the week and looks to increase slightly next term. And should the school call her in to help out, I expect she will by God's grace rise to the challenge!
Being a casual worker in Australia affects pay rate, superannuation, and benefits. If Laura was a full-time employee at the college, there would be additional security and benefits granted her. Though Laura is often called into work, she is a casual employee. I would not compare her situation to a doctor who is "on-call." Some doctors, for instance, often have a strenuous schedule with regular hours which extend far beyond a typical 35 to 40 hour week. Many also are "on-call," meaning if there is an emergency they have the responsibility to answer the call and go into work. People who do casual work and are "on-call" both are called into work: the casual employee only works when the call comes, and for those on-call workers have regularly scheduled hours which extend beyond full time employment. The call means extra work on top of full-time!
I wonder: do we Christians approach life like a casual employee of Jesus or a full-time worker who is on-call? I have heard people say that pastors are always on-call, but I am convinced all disciples of Christ are full-time ministers and also are on-call - whether or not they are paid by a church for their labours. I imagine there are some full-time pastors who approach their service to God like a casual employee, and there are certainly parishioners who are full-time disciples and also on-call, joyful to serve God in every capacity who never keep track of their hours. Isn't this how we ought to be? If we measure our service only by time, what does that prove? Inmates in prison count hours and days too. Those followers of Jesus who serve Him faithfully, joyfully, and continually regardless of their circumstances or recognition bring glory to God. Every minute on earth we live by God's grace, and how good it is to respond to His grace and goodness by giving ourselves back to Him. It is service done with the pure motive of God's love for us, not the logging of hours (or the accumulation of blog posts!) which pleases God.
The widow put in two small mites into the Temple treasury and was deemed by Christ to have given more than the most wealthy contribution because she gave all. That is what we can give: our all. Let's be full-time Christians, always glad to respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Where God calls us He will supply the strength and resources to accomplish His will. We should be on-call with Jesus not because He needs us but because we need Him - and He's already given all of Himself! We are going to be with God for eternity, have fellowship with God even now, and the Holy Spirit indwells us today. Amazing, right?
Being a casual worker in Australia affects pay rate, superannuation, and benefits. If Laura was a full-time employee at the college, there would be additional security and benefits granted her. Though Laura is often called into work, she is a casual employee. I would not compare her situation to a doctor who is "on-call." Some doctors, for instance, often have a strenuous schedule with regular hours which extend far beyond a typical 35 to 40 hour week. Many also are "on-call," meaning if there is an emergency they have the responsibility to answer the call and go into work. People who do casual work and are "on-call" both are called into work: the casual employee only works when the call comes, and for those on-call workers have regularly scheduled hours which extend beyond full time employment. The call means extra work on top of full-time!
I wonder: do we Christians approach life like a casual employee of Jesus or a full-time worker who is on-call? I have heard people say that pastors are always on-call, but I am convinced all disciples of Christ are full-time ministers and also are on-call - whether or not they are paid by a church for their labours. I imagine there are some full-time pastors who approach their service to God like a casual employee, and there are certainly parishioners who are full-time disciples and also on-call, joyful to serve God in every capacity who never keep track of their hours. Isn't this how we ought to be? If we measure our service only by time, what does that prove? Inmates in prison count hours and days too. Those followers of Jesus who serve Him faithfully, joyfully, and continually regardless of their circumstances or recognition bring glory to God. Every minute on earth we live by God's grace, and how good it is to respond to His grace and goodness by giving ourselves back to Him. It is service done with the pure motive of God's love for us, not the logging of hours (or the accumulation of blog posts!) which pleases God.
The widow put in two small mites into the Temple treasury and was deemed by Christ to have given more than the most wealthy contribution because she gave all. That is what we can give: our all. Let's be full-time Christians, always glad to respond to the call of Jesus Christ. Where God calls us He will supply the strength and resources to accomplish His will. We should be on-call with Jesus not because He needs us but because we need Him - and He's already given all of Himself! We are going to be with God for eternity, have fellowship with God even now, and the Holy Spirit indwells us today. Amazing, right?
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