Work Theology from … the Little Drummer Boy?
Excerpt from Little Drummer Boy
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.
This morning at Liquid we sang the Christmas song Little Drummer Boy and it got me thinking. At first I was like, why are we singing this song at church? It’s not about Jesus but about this little boy with a drum who doesn’t actually appear in the Bible. On stage, at one point in the song, everyone in the band picked up drum sticks and started banging out a rhythm together. Then it hit me (an idea, not a drum stick (insert rim shot (and another since we’re talking about drums))). This is talking about the theology of work. The little drummer boy’s job is to play the drums. It’s what he does and he’s doing it for 8lbs 6oz newborn infant Jesus. I played my drum for Him … I played my best for Him. He does what he can do as best as he can for Jesus. I don’t have gold, incense, or myrrh. I don’t have anything fit for a King, just a 9-5 (or 10-6) job.
Shall I work for you, pa rum pum pum pum?
Dude, am I the very first person to comment on your new blog?
I also have been personally blessed by the song “Little Drummer Boy.” Especially the Echoing Green’s version of it. Yay for synthesizers!
BTW, isn’t the message of it primarily WORSHIP theology, not work theology? (Work DOES fit, though). But I see it more as worshipping God with whatever we have, even if it doesn’t seem significant in the world’s eyes. OK, then we can say that we do our work as worship to God. But then the core theme of the song is still worship, not work. =)