THE 8 LABORS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
COLOSSIANS 1:24-2:5
INTRODUCTION... (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Hercules/labors.html) There is a famous story that you perhaps read in high school or college about the Greek hero Hercules. The goddess Hera, determined to make trouble for Hercules, made him lose his mind. In a confused and angry state, he killed his own wife and children. When he awakened from his "temporary insanity," Hercules was shocked and upset by what he’d done. He prayed to the god Apollo for guidance, and the god’s oracle told him he would have to serve Eurystheus, the king of Tiryns and Mycenae, for twelve years, in punishment for the murders. As part of his sentence, Hercules had to perform twelve Labors, feats so difficult that they seemed impossible. Fortunately, Hercules had the help of Hermes and Athena, sympathetic deities who showed up when he really needed help. By the end of these Labors, Hercules was, without a doubt, Greece’s greatest hero. His struggles made Hercules the perfect embodiment of an idea the Greeks called pathos, the experience of virtuous struggle and suffering which would lead to fame and, in Hercules’ case, immortality.
The Labors (*summarize and skip around to show the ’struggle’*):
Labor 1: The Nemean Lion: King Eurystheus decided Hercules’ first task would be to bring him the skin of an invulnerable lion which terrorized the hills around Nemea.
Labor 2: The Lernean Hydra: The second labor of Hercules was to kill the Lernean Hydra.
From the murky waters of the swamps near a place called Lerna, the hydra would rise up and terrorize the countryside. A monstrous serpent with nine heads, the hydra attacked with poisonous venom. Nor was this beast easy prey, for one of the nine heads was immortal and therefore indestructible.
Labor 3: The Hind of Ceryneia: For the third labor, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring
him the Hind of Ceryneia. The hind is a female red deer and was quite sacred to the people and gods.
Labor 4: The Erymanthean Boar:This one was called the Erymanthian boar, because it lived
on a mountain called Erymanthus. Every day the boar would come crashing down from his lair on the mountain, attacking men and animals all over the countryside, gouging them with its tusks, and destroying everything in its path.
Labor 5: The Augean Stables: For the fifth labor, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to clean up
King Augeas’ stables. Hercules knew this job would mean getting dirty and smelly, but sometimes even a hero has to do these things. Then Eurystheus made Hercules’ task even harder: he had to clean up after the cattle of Augeas in a single day. Now King Augeas owned more cattle than anyone in Greece. Some say that he was a son of one of the great gods, and others that he was a son of a mortal; whosever son he was, Augeas was very rich, and he had many herds of cows, bulls, goats, sheep and horses
Labor 6: The Stymphalian Birds:After Hercules returned from his success in the Augean stables, Eurystheus came up with an even more difficult task. For the sixth Labor, Hercules was to drive away an enormous flock of birds which gathered at a lake near the town of Stymphalos.
Labor 7: The Cretan Bull: After the complicated business with the Stymphalian Birds, Hercules easily
disposed of the Cretan Bull.
Labor 8: The Horses of Diomedes:After Hercules had captured the Cretan Bull, Eurystheus sent him to get
the man-eating mares of Diomedes, the king of a Thracian tribe called the Bistones, and bring them back to him in Mycenae
Labor 9: The Belt of Hippolyte: For the ninth labor, Eurystheus ordered Hercules to bring him the belt of Hippolyte [Hip-POLLY-tee]. This was no ordinary belt and no ordinary warrior. Hippolyte was queen of the Amazons, a tribe of women warriors.
Labor 10: Geryon’s Cattle: To accomplish his tenth labor, Hercules had to journey to the end of the world. Eurystheus ordered the hero to bring him the cattle of the monster Geryon. Geryon was the son of Chrysaor and Callirrhoe. Chrysaor had sprung from the body of the Gorgon Medusa after Perseus beheaded her, and Callirrhoe was the daughter of two Titans, Oceanus and Tethys. With such distinguished lineage, it is no surprise that Geryon himself was quite unique. It seems that Geryon had three heads and three sets of legs all joined at the waist.
Labor 11: The Apples of the Hesperides: Poor Hercules! After eight years and one month,
after performing ten superhuman labors, he was still not off the hook. Eurystheus demanded two more labors from the hero, since he did not count the hydra or the Augean stables as properly done. Eurystheus commanded Hercules to bring him golden apples which belonged to Zeus, king of the gods. Hera had given these apples to Zeus as a wedding gift, so surely this task was impossible. Hera, who didn’t want to see Hercules succeed, would never permit him to steal one of her prize possessions, would she? These apples were kept in a garden at the northern edge of the world, and they were guarded not only by a hundred-headed dragon, named Ladon, but also by the Hesperides, nymphs who were daughters of Atlas, the titan who held the sky and the earth upon his shoulders.
Labor 12: Cerberus: The most dangerous labor of all was the twelfth and final one. Eurystheus ordered Hercules to go to the Underworld and kidnap the beast called Cerberus (or Kerberos). Eurystheus must have been sure Hercules would never succeed at this impossible task! The ancient Greeks believed that after a person died, his or her spirit went to the world below and dwelled for eternity in the depths of the earth. The Underworld was the kingdom of Hades, also called Pluto, and his wife, Persephone. Depending on how a person lived his or her life, they might or might not experience never-ending punishment in Hades. All souls, whether good or bad, were destined for the kingdom of Hades.
The end result of all of these labors for Hercules was that this virtuous struggle would lead to fame and he
would become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, hero of ancient Greece. In our passage today, the Apostle Paul speaks of his struggle and his labors for the church in Colossae and the neighboring church in Laodicea.
READ COLOSSIANS 1:26-2:5
Just like Hercules, the Apostle Paul was given a commission by his King to labor for the people and to serve Him. Verse 25 tells us that God commissioned Paul to serve Him and to labor for the Gospel. These labors of Paul were not for fame or fortune, but for spiritual purposes. I would like us to look at these efforts and struggles of the Apostle Paul and to relate them to our own lives.
I. LABOR 1: Presenting the Word of God (verse 25)
Paul tells the Colossians that his first labor given to him by God was that he is to present the Gospel to the world. Paul tells the Colossians that he did that for them and did so in all of its fullness. He brings the message that has been revealed to the saints to the Gentiles and to all people who will listen. Paul, after his conversion, committed his life to sharing the Gospel. Acts 13 tells us of the beginning of the ministry of the Apostle Paul and his missionary journeys. The primary motivation of Paul’s life was to present the Gospel to the world and he did so in every town, village, or people group he came across. Paul spread the message about Jesus Christ, ’the hope of glory.’
* Do we do this in our church... do we present the Gospel to the world?
* Do we do this in our personal lives? Do we share the Gospel message with all of the people we encounter in our daily lives?
II. LABOR 2: Presenting Everyone Perfect (verse 28)
Paul tells us in verse 28 that he labors to ’present everyone perfect in Christ.’ What does that mean? We know that it is Jesus who presents us before God as perfect and holy. Paul states that this is his aim as well. He wants to work among the people so that their lives are full of holiness and the resting of temptation. We can never be truly perfect in this life, but we can attempt it. We can try with all of our might combined with the might of the Holy Spirit to live out the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the desires of God, and the teachings of Scripture. The result is that we live holier and more Christlike lives. That is our desire is it not... to be more Christlike?
* Are we making an effort to live the Christian life or are we just biding our time?
* Are we pursuing Christ to be more like Him or are we satisfied with the status quo?
III. LABOR 3: Encouragement of the Heart (verse 2)
One of Paul’s important missions in traveling around to churches after they have been established is to encourage the people in their faith and in their hearts. Encouragement is a powerful weapon against Satan, who loves nothing better than to discourage a Christian trying to walk like Christ or a church trying to go about God’s business. Paul is speaking to the Colossian Christians and knows that not all of them have met him. They have grown since he was last at the church. He want s to encourage all of the people in their faith, whether they have met him or not. Everyone needs encouragement in their faith.
ILLUSTRATION... Bird Dog (Bits & Pieces, August 20, 1992, pp. 15-16)
During quail season in Georgia, an Atlanta journalist met an old farmer hunting with an
ancient pointer at his side. Twice the dog ran rheumatically ahead and pointed. Twice his master fired into the open air. When the journalist saw no birds rise, he asked the farmer for an explanation.
“Shucks,” grinned the old man, “I knew there weren’t no birds in that grass. Spot’s nose ain’t what it used to be. But him and me have had some wonderful times together. He’s still doing the best he can—and it’d be mighty mean of me to call him a liar at this stage of the game!”
* Are we a church that encourages or discourages people in their faith?
* Are you an encourager or a discourager?
* You must think of ways to encourage one another and then do those on a consistent basis.
IV. LABOR 4: United in Love (verse 2)
Paul was also very concerned with Christian unity. He knew that believers, when banded together, were stronger than when they were alone. We know that as well... two are better than one. Sometimes though, especially in the church, unity can be a difficult thing.
ILLUSTRATION... Porcupines
The German philosopher Schopenhauer compared the human race to a bunch of porcupines huddling together on a cold winter’s night. He said, “The colder it gets outside, the more we huddle together for warmth; but the closer we get to one another, the more we hurt one another with our sharp quills. And in the lonely night of earth’s winter eventually we begin to drift apart and wander out on our own and freeze to death in our loneliness.” Christ has given us an alternative—to forgive each other for the pokes we receive. That allows us to stay together and stay warm.
Not only does forgiveness and grace with one another allow us to stay warm (not a problem in this church), it allows us to fend off Satan and to persevere in this life that is often overwhelming when one is by themselves. One of Paul’s labors was unity among the churches. He had an uphill battle most of the time due to differences between Jews and Gentiles, but it was a necessity nonetheless.
* Are we a church that is united or are we poking one another constantly?
* When someone walks into the church do they sense the unity of Christ among us?
* Are we here united together and bound by our faith in Christ?
V. LABOR 5: Complete understanding of God (verse 2)
Paul emphasizes again to the Colossians that he is laboring the struggling for them. One of his main labors is that all the sheep that he shepherds understand God. Verse 2 tells us that a byproduct of encouragement and unity among the believers is that they learn together about God and have a full understanding. He wants them to investigate the mystery of Christ and to understand it. He wants them to have a full grasp of God and theology.
* Are we a church that emphasizes learning about God and studying His Word?
* Do you study God’s Word to learn about Him or do you leave your Bible in the car so you have it each Sunday?
* Are you here at church for the studies and programs that will increase your knowledge of Him?
VI. LABOR 6: Complete understanding of Faith (verse 4)
Paul continues telling the Colossians about his labors and he mentions that he does not want them to be persuaded by ’fine-sounding arguments.’ Paul wants them to have a complete understanding of their faith. He wants them to know what they believe. He wants them to know why they believe. He wants this for them so that when someone says something else contrary to the Gospel message that they heard, they can identify it and dismiss it from their minds. We live in a world where this is so very important. Messages contrary to Scripture come through the TV, radio, movies, and so many other avenues.
* Do you know what you believe?
* Do you know why you believe what you do?
* Do you know what your church teaches on different issues and doctrines of faith?
VII. LABOR 7: Orderly Life (verse 5)
In verse 5, Paul lets them know that he is not physically with them, but his heart and his spirit is with them. He cares deeply for the Colossians and wants the best for them. One of the last labors that Paul mentions is oddly enough, order. He looks at the church and notes their orderliness. Why would he mention that? One of the first reasons I think of is that our God is a God of order and not chaos and so in their order they are reflecting God. I also think that it shows the Colossians are serious about their faith and their worship time.
You may have had the experience of listening to someone who was in chaos. You may have been to someone’s home that looks like chaos. The chaos communicates a lack of caring some times and Paul sees this in the church. Orderliness in the church allows all people to worship and participate and glorifies God.
* Are we an orderly church? Are our worship services orderly?
* Is your life orderly or chaotic?
VIII. LABOR 8: Firm in the Faith (verse 5)
Paul’s last labor that he mentions is that his desire is that they are firm in their faith. The pressures of the world are similar to those of today. Satan still attacks Christians today as he did then. Paul wants them firm in their faith so that when the huge tidal waves of life hit them, they are able to persevere and come though with a stronger faith and a healthy view of God.
* Are you firm in your faith?
* Is our church one that supports one another during the hard times and helps to remain firm?
IX. THE PURPOSE OF THE LABORS
Why do all of these things? Why did Paul labor so hard for God? Why did Paul labor so hard for the churches? In the story of Hercules, he labored for fame and to become a great hero of Greece. We know of course that Paul labored for Christ... not for fame and certainly not to become a hero. Why did Paul labor for these things? Why should we labor for these things? I think the answer comes in verses 28 and 29. Paul says in verse 29, ’to this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me.’ What is the end he speaks of? Verse 28 tells us that. Verse 28 tells us that the purpose of all of this effort is more Christlikness.
* We present the Gospel to all that we meet to become more like Christ.
* We try and live more holy lives to become more like Christ.
* We encourage those around us to become more like Christ.
* We unite together in love with Christians around us to become more like Christ.
* We study God’s Word and improve our understand of God to become more like Christ.
* We investigate what and why we believe to become more like Christ.
* We live orderly corporately and privately to become more like Christ.
* We stand firm in our faith to become more like Christ.
CONCLUSION
