“Why Would I Need a Warrior Code?”
(a Steve Orr Bible reflection)
In feudal Japan, “samurai” referred to a “retainer.” It describes someone who accompanies a lord, pledges fealty to that lord, and serves that lord in close attendance. Samurai means, essentially, “to wait upon the lord.”
Though different in some ways, it would not be wrong to think of a lord as a kind of king and a samurai as a kind of knight.
“Bushido,” the warrior code of the samurai, is captured in a practical and spiritual guide known as the Hagakure. It has been said of Bushido that it is Japan, that it captures the heart of all that truly matters to their culture.
Is everyone in Japan a warrior? No. But in their worldview, even today, everyone is either a lord (e.g., a boss) or a retainer (someone who works for the boss). There are few lords and many retainers. A book delving into what makes one the ideal retainer could easily be the heart of that culture.
What is it about this book—on the surface about warriors—that makes it the cultural guide for almost everyone in Japan? It’s simple: Anyone, from the most skilled to the least, can hold a place of honor in the culture. Per the Hagakure: "Even a person who is good for nothing … will be a reliable retainer if only he has the determination to think earnestly of his master."
If only the one-talent servant in this week's Matthew selection had read the Hagakure. Perhaps if he had been keeping his mind fixed on what was best for his master, he would have made a better choice concerning his one talent.
Why does any of that matter to us?
When we stop focusing on what could go wrong, and instead focus on what God intended for us to do with our talents—even if in our opinion they are meager—we can make the wise choice.
We need only think earnestly of our master.
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“You who are on the road must have a code that you can live by . . .” Listen to Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young sing “Teach Your Children” with lyrics displayed
Some interesting reading about Japan’s most popular (fictional) samurai, “Lone Wolf and Cub”
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DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast is a fun and interesting way to start the weekend. Every Friday, we dig into the scriptures for the coming Sunday, ask questions and seek their relevance for our lives. Join us at 8:00 on Zoom* and in Waco at Our Breakfast Place. It’s an hour like no other.
Blessings,
Steve
*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard):
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Find them here:
Print them from here:
Judges 4:1-7
Psalm 123
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Proper 28 (33) (November 15, 2026)
