I remember upon graduating from college and entering the work force, that on occasion, a certain phenomenon would take place at my venue of employment. Often this was undertaken by someone not particularly good at people skills, yet this act was incredibly effective at securing endearment from fellow employees.
The individual would arrive at work armed with little more than a medium-sized pink box and begin to make his way through the cubicles en route to the conference room. Typing would cease, phone calls would soften, and necks would stretch in the direction of this benefactor. The pink box had allure. The pink box had power. It could bring the entirety of the massive industry to a screeching halt. It had gained the attention of every sentient being in the vicinity. We knew. He knew. We knew he knew. And he knew we knew he knew.
Yes, we were well aware there was something in that pink box for each of us, something that would spike our blood sugar and work production for minutes to come, but we had to get to it first. Like lemmings drawn to a sea of pink, we subconsciously followed after the pink-boxed piper to assure our success at the lottery. Starch, fat, and yes, sugar awaited the most faithful to persevere. Would I get my favorite?
How is it that a 5-dollar box of baked goodies (obviously 1980s dollars) could have that kind of control, that kind of appeal, so as to hold the entire company ransom for minutes on end? We were unconcerned with the messenger’s character, nor did we notice what he was wearing; it could just as well have been a floating box. All our senses were drawn by that enticement of… pink! Oh My! Yet, as Pavlovian as the box was, it wasn’t the box itself we sought or wanted; we sought what was inside.
Wow, Kelly! What was that pink box stuff all about?
Paul exhorts believers in 1 Corinthians 4:1:
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.
Ponder that for a moment.
In no way do I wish to demean the value of our contents to the level of pastries because, as Christians, we hold inside us the very mysteries of God; instead, I want to focus on the fact that we have the privilege of being a container—a vessel of the greatest of worth.
Paul is communicating that one of our privileges as Christians is to be servants of Christ; as such, we have within us the Spirit of God, and we have become vessels of the mysteries of God. In addition, we are walking among those whom God wishes to bless with this ultimate truth: the wonder of a loving, majestic, and holy Creator God who desires a relationship with those chosen.
Wouldn’t it be great if the world saw followers of Christ as “pink boxes” filled with something so alluring that unbelievers were automatically drawn to us—that we were so recognized as housing the mysteries of God that unbelievers sought us out?
In his next letter to the Corinthians, Paul identifies what is in that pink box:
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. — 2 Corinthians 4:6
Indeed, we have the great gospel package housed within us!
Our lives—our actions, our words, our character, our compassion, our integrity, our lifestyle, our habits, our care for our families, our love for our spouses, and our love for each other are all included in the contents of the pink box that is revealed to the world. In many ways those are the traits which serve to validate our claims and right to speak. We possess the mysteries of God inside, and the truth we hold has so transformed our lives, it may just transform others’ lives as well.
Thank you, Lord, for entrusting the gospel to us!
Let men and women regard us in this manner! Steward well, Flock!
[The Pink Box is chapter 10 of a forthcoming book The Sheep of His Pasture]
(The Shepherd’s Echo is a reposting of a previously published TheShepherdsPen)
