Work and God
Happy Labor Day! For all of you in the workforce - and I include homemakers, productive retirees, and stay-at-home moms and dads in that - thank you for your contributions to our families, communities, and society! Take Monday off!
Work and jobs are a huge part of our lives for which we need God’s direction. One of the main themes that runs throughout Colossians is the supremacy of Christ in everything. It is with this understanding, that the Apostle Paul instructs us how to live out our faith in whatever we do. As you celebrate Labor Day and perhaps think about the work you do or the job you have, be thankful and keep these three truths in mind:
1. Work was ordained by God – In Genesis 2, God put Adam in the Garden and instructed him to take care of it. Work was not a consequence of sin. God gives work to be both enjoyable and meaningful. However, in Genesis 3, Adam’s sin brought about a curse to the ground which meant work would be more difficult. Sweat, pain, and toil are used to describe work after sin entered in. Sadly, I think we can all relate to the cursed part of our work or jobs. But it's helpful to remember that your work and job are under Christ's authority and are, therefore, in His hands.
2. Work is meant for our good – 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 says, "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.' We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.'" God commands work because He wants what’s best for us. He created us in His image, with the purpose of working and supporting the flourishing of life in this world. In part, this is our job as Christians! Work should not be just a paycheck. Work is a gift from God. It gives us purpose, productivity, income, and a rhythm of activity and rest.
3. All work is the Lord’s work – Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters . . . It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” In the passage, the worker's job is elevated to the highest calling in service to the Lord. In last week's devotional, I suggested there should be little difference between the secular and spiritual things in our lives. So even though the people and organizations we work for may not always be God-centered, it doesn’t mean our jobs are not an act of service to the Lord. What we do and how we do it matters. As God’s chosen people, we are a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:9). Jesus' lordship should be brought to bear on everything we do.
We are to obey, work hard, and work with integrity, with one great qualification, our work should not conflict with our duty to God. We should never agree to do things that go against our faith in Christ. Ultimately, we work for the Lord and not for man. Everything is under His authority. From scripture, we see that God’s plan for the Apostle Paul was sometimes different from what he wanted. Yet he accomplished many things for the Lord. From Paul’s experience, we should learn to value our work, thank God for it, and demonstrate Christ's character in what we do. Finally, Paul says in Colossians 1:17-18, "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together . . . so that in everything he might have the supremacy." God bless you in your work in the Lord!
Pastor Darren
