(The Shepherd’s Echo is a reposting of a previously published TheShepherdsPen)
I remember upon graduating from college and entering the work force, how a certain phenomenon would take place on occasion at my newly found place of employment. Often times this was undertaken by someone who was not particularly learned, or experienced, maybe not extremely talented, yet this act was extremely effective at securing his endearment.
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 in route to the conference room. Typing would cease, phone calls would soften, and necks would begin to stretch in the direction of this benefactor. Work would come to a near standstill. The pink box had allure. It had power. It could bring the entirety of this massive mission of 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 knew 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 there first. Like lemmings drawn to a sea of pink, we subconsciously, almost involuntarily 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 (1980’s dollars) of baked goodies could have that kind of control, that kind of appeal so as to hold the entire company ransom for minutes on end? We were unaware of any character defects of the messenger, or what he was wearing; it could just as well have been a floating box we were following. All signaled by that enticement of…pink. Oh My! Yet, as Pavlovian as the box was, it wasn’t the box itself we sought or wanted to eat; it was that which had been entrusted to its care.
Wow, Kelly! What was all that pink box stuff all about?
Paul exhorts 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 a moment. Let me interject here that in no way do I wish to demean the value of our contents to the level of pastries; it is the privilege of being a container, a vessel of the greatest of worth upon which I focus.
Let me suggest that Paul is communicating that one of the privileges of Christians is that we are servants of Christ, and as such we have within us the Spirit of God, and we have become vessels of the mysteries of God. And we are walking among those whom God wishes to bless with this ultimate truth! The wonder of a loving, majestic, holy, and Creator God who desires relationship with everyone through the blood of Christ.
Wouldn’t it be great if the world saw believers as pink boxes, filled with something so alluring that they were compelled, drawn to us? That we truly were so recognized as housing the mysteries of God that they sought us out?
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, our love for each other, are part of the “pink box” revealed to the world. In many ways those are the traits that the world observes which serve to validate our claims and right to speak; that we possess the mysteries of God inside; that the truth we hold has so transformed our lives, and may transform their lives as well.
Thank you Lord for entrusting the Gospel to us!
Let men regard us in this manner.
Steward well, Church!
