Lessons from The Carpenters Presented By Ray Patrick

Had a wonderful weekend had about 100 people travel with us to Liverpool to visit the International Slavery Museum. We honoured the work of our ancestor many of whom gave their lives so we could have a better one. We prayed, sang and gave tribute At the Albert Dock where the first African Slave's arrived in the UK. It was awesome

Lessons from The Carpenters
Presented By Ray Patrick

The 26th August was my fathers birthday. It’s almost 2 years since he has past. During some thoughtful moments, I was reminded that his passion was carpentry. He would make things from scratch, he was very protective of his tools and he was very precise in his measurements. Just like Jesus his earthly father did what mine did…

Yes Joseph, was a carpenter and that Matthew calls him "a righteous man," but we seldom think about the wisdom he handed down to Jesus through his profession.

In ancient times, it was customary for a son to follow his father into his trade not much now a day. Joseph practiced his trade in the small village of Nazareth, but he probably worked in nearby towns as well. My father practiced his trade in the little town of Shepherds Bush in west London and the surrounding areas. If you have ever stepped into a Marks & Spencer you may be looking at daddy’s handy work.

Much later in Jesus' life, when he returned to his hometown of Nazareth to teach the Gospel, the people in the synagogue couldn't get past his former life, asking, "Isn't this the carpenter?" (Mark 6:3 NIV).

As a carpenter son like me, Jesus must have learned many tricks of the woodworking trade from Joseph. While tools and techniques have changed a great deal over the past 2,000 years, three simple rules that Joseph lived by still hold true today.

1 – Don’t Waste-Measure Twice, Cut Once
Wood was scarce in ancient Israel. Joseph and his apprentice Jesus couldn't afford to make mistakes. They learned to proceed with caution, anticipating the consequences of everything they did. It's a wise principle for our lives, too.

We need to be careful in our behavior. People are watching. Nonbelievers are judging you by the way you act, and we can either attract them to the faith or drive them away.

Thinking ahead prevents a lot of trouble. We should measure our spending against our income and not exceed it. We should measure our physical health and take steps to protect it. And, we should measure our spiritual growth from time to time and work to increase it. Just like the timber in ancient Israel, our resources are limited, so we should do our best to use them wisely. Don’t waste your resources.

2 – Don’t Use The Wrong Tools - Use Right One for the Job
Joseph wouldn't have tried to pound with a chisel or drill a hole with an ax. My dad had a special tool for each task.

So it is with us. Don't use anger when understanding is called for. Don't use indifference when encouragement is needed. We can build people up or tear them down, depending on which tools we use.

Jesus gave people hope. He wasn't embarrassed to show love and compassion. He was a master at using the right tools, and as his apprentices, we should do the same.

Share when sharing is needed, love when love is needed, and uplift when uplifting is needed. Use the right tools…

3 – Don’t Mistreat Your Tools Take Care of them, They'll Take Care of You
Joseph's livelihood depended on his tools. We as children of God have the tools our father gives us, whether it's a computer or an impact wrench, and we have a responsibility to take care of them as if they're our own.

But we also have the tools of prayer, meditation, fasting, worship, and praise. Our most valuable tool, of course, is the Word of God. If we sink its truths deep into our minds then live them out. Don’t mistreat these tools and God will take care of us, too.

In the body of Christ, every one is a carpenter with a job to do. Like my dad and Joseph, we can mentor our apprentices--our sons, daughters, friends, relatives and youth in our community--teaching them the skills to pass the faith on to the generation after them. The more we learn about our faith, the better a teacher we'll be.

God has given us all the tools and resources we need. Whether you're at your place of business or at home or at leisure, you're always on the job. Work for God with your head, your hands, and your heart and you can't go wrong.

Father, thanks for these reminders. Help us to put them into practice today… Amen



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