Thought for Today
Genesis 4:22 Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
Deuteronomy 27:5 And you shall build an altar there to the LORD your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;
Romans 6:13 No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness.
Many professions have what we call ‘tools of the trade.’ Carpenters have hammers and saws. Blacksmiths have forges and anvils. The building trades make great use of squares and compasses, trowels and other implements. When I studied engineering, we made frequent use of sliderules. Today, engineers make even more use of computers.
There are other implements and accoutrements we associate with various professions. Accountants, engineers and others are often associated with pocket protectors. Years ago, postmen carried special satchels. Today, postal carriers drive special vehicles. Sometimes, over time, the various tools of the trade, the different accoutrements, change.
Evidently, our ancestors-in-the-faith had the same concept of tools of the trade. Tubal-cain was the first to make tools of bronze and iron. He was the first blacksmith. But, there were sometimes special restrictions placed on the use of tools. This was especially true in the construction of things associated with worship. There was some negative association between altars and iron tools. Also, we read in the Bible, “1 Kings 6:7 The house was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard in the temple while it was being built.” I’m not sure what there was about iron that seemed so inappropriate. There are basically 2 different processes for working iron, forging and casting. Sometimes steel is referred to as ‘hard iron,’ so it could be considered as a third process. Maybe the forging of those iron tools somehow contaminated the tool.
As a Christian, I am familiar with the fact that Joseph was a carpenter. “Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” The folks in Jesus’ hometown were amazed at Jesus’ knowledge and erudition. Evidently, thinking and meditation were not considered tools of the trade for carpenters, their sons or apprentices.
What are our tools of the trade as Christians? Aside from the tools of the professions and careers where we earn our livings, what are our tools as Christians? We know from Acts that Paul became God’s instrument to bring the gospel message to the gentiles. From reading the epistles of Paul, we know that Paul used his education and training as a Pharisee in his missionary work. While on those missionary journeys, he also used his training in the ‘family business’ of tentmaking to support himself.
What are our tools of the trade as Christians? What do we use to present our “members to God as instruments of righteousness? For me, the most basic tools of my Christianity are prayer and the Bible. But, like the hammers and screwdrivers in my toolbox in the basement, my Christian tools are only utile if they are used. Just like those tools in the toolbox, if I do not pray, if I do not read and study scripture, my Christian tools just sit idly by and gather dust.
The beauty of our tools as Christians is that the more they are used, the sharper they become. My hammer can become dented, the handle can break. Developing calluses on my knees from prayer only makes it easier to kneel before God. I can proudly relate that I have worn several covers off the Bible I received many years ago when I made my public confession of faith in our church. And, the more we use our tools as Christians, the more we too become “instruments of righteousness.”
Of course, our most valuable tool as Christians is love. It is the ‘tool’ we are commanded to use. It is the tool which is always available, always of value, and applicable to all occasions. Sadly, it sometimes seems one of the least used tools.
Stay safe, pray, read the Bible, love each other, trust God,
Pastor Ray