Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men. - Proverbs 22:29
I got my first real job in October, 2009, 8 months after I finished college and 2 months after I graduated. I remember praying for a job when I was in my first year in college... I based my prayers then on Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help". At the time, I knew that once I finish college I needed God to help me get a job. In the subsequent years, I did not pray much for a job, but in my final year, I once again started praying about a job and by His goodness and faithfulness, He gave me the job that I had wanted.
Now, I believe a lot of Christians have a similar testimony, "I prayed to God for a job and He answered with this one." However, what I find lacking in many is God's perspective on work, at least what in my opinion is the whole picture. Most Christians see work as a means of making a living, after all the Bible says, he who does not work should not eat right. Others go a bit further and see work as means of earning money that they can give to ministry or in other words to God's work.
But, I believe work is so much more than that. Work is actually a form of ministry in the sense that it is one of the ways in which we serve God. Mind you, I am not limiting this to Christian work or work in the church or Christian organizations. This work I am talking about includes working in the 'secular' world. Here is my thesis.
The Bible tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, mind, and strength right, basically we are to love God with our whole being. It goes on further to tell us that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God for that is an acceptable/reasonable act of worship or service (depending on which version you read). If we are truly doing this, then it means that everything we do in life is supposed to reveal our love for God and it is to be done in service to Him, hence Colossians 3:23-24. The scripture reads "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Notice the way in which it is phrased... WHATEVER YOU DO.. it is not restricted to those activities done for the church or Christian organization. It is all activities you are involved in. If we have this mindset then even our attitude at work will change. We will be more diligent and we are likely to work harder for we realise that ultimately we are not working for the organization or for our bosses, but we are actually doing it for God. In another sense, it is the best way for you to say thank you to Him for giving you the job.
And to give another thought... do you know where we get the first mention of wisdom in the Bible? The first use of the word wisdom is with reference to the abilities God had given to men He earmarked for making the tabernacle and everything in it as well as the priests' garments (see Exodus 28:3). The first mention of wisdom is in reference to craftsmen. God tells Moses that He filled these men with skill and wisdom to carry out their crafts. Interesting isn't it.. that the first mention of a word we usually relate with the abilities of the intellect was actually first spoken of with reference to hand skills or in other words to a work that these men did. In our era, craftsmen are looked down upon, yet the first mention of wisdom is about them.
What am I aiming at? The Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship" (Exodus 31:1-5). God gives us wisdom for the work we are involved in. This wisdom is actually an outworking of the Holy Spirit who resides in us.
Now, if God has given us the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom for work, why does the church seem to consider the workplace believer as a second class Christian? It almost seems like, if you are not involved in any of the church's ministries then you are not really a Christian or at least a 'strong' Christian. As a result, the church has not set out to equip those of its members who are in the workplace. Very rarely, do you hear sermons about how one is to conduct themselves in the workplace and how they can be an influence for the kingdom of God. Yet that is where the majority of the church can be found, in the workplace. It is also the place where they spend the majority of their time (5 days of the week) compared to the few hours spent at church on Sunday.
I think it is time the church starts teaching about God's perspective of work and equip the workplace believer. That way, we will become good stewards of the blessing God has given us.
Now that I think of it, I think I will put a proper write-up on this subject on my other blog (Dei Gratia) soon. But for now, these are my thoughts.
Bless..
Consider Huram, the master craftsman of bronze in whom Solomon entrusted much of the temple designs. He was a true master craftsman (see 1 Kings 7:14).
I got my first real job in October, 2009, 8 months after I finished college and 2 months after I graduated. I remember praying for a job when I was in my first year in college... I based my prayers then on Hebrews 4:16 "Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help". At the time, I knew that once I finish college I needed God to help me get a job. In the subsequent years, I did not pray much for a job, but in my final year, I once again started praying about a job and by His goodness and faithfulness, He gave me the job that I had wanted.
Now, I believe a lot of Christians have a similar testimony, "I prayed to God for a job and He answered with this one." However, what I find lacking in many is God's perspective on work, at least what in my opinion is the whole picture. Most Christians see work as a means of making a living, after all the Bible says, he who does not work should not eat right. Others go a bit further and see work as means of earning money that they can give to ministry or in other words to God's work.
But, I believe work is so much more than that. Work is actually a form of ministry in the sense that it is one of the ways in which we serve God. Mind you, I am not limiting this to Christian work or work in the church or Christian organizations. This work I am talking about includes working in the 'secular' world. Here is my thesis.
The Bible tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts, mind, and strength right, basically we are to love God with our whole being. It goes on further to tell us that we are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God for that is an acceptable/reasonable act of worship or service (depending on which version you read). If we are truly doing this, then it means that everything we do in life is supposed to reveal our love for God and it is to be done in service to Him, hence Colossians 3:23-24. The scripture reads "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Notice the way in which it is phrased... WHATEVER YOU DO.. it is not restricted to those activities done for the church or Christian organization. It is all activities you are involved in. If we have this mindset then even our attitude at work will change. We will be more diligent and we are likely to work harder for we realise that ultimately we are not working for the organization or for our bosses, but we are actually doing it for God. In another sense, it is the best way for you to say thank you to Him for giving you the job.
And to give another thought... do you know where we get the first mention of wisdom in the Bible? The first use of the word wisdom is with reference to the abilities God had given to men He earmarked for making the tabernacle and everything in it as well as the priests' garments (see Exodus 28:3). The first mention of wisdom is in reference to craftsmen. God tells Moses that He filled these men with skill and wisdom to carry out their crafts. Interesting isn't it.. that the first mention of a word we usually relate with the abilities of the intellect was actually first spoken of with reference to hand skills or in other words to a work that these men did. In our era, craftsmen are looked down upon, yet the first mention of wisdom is about them.
What am I aiming at? The Lord said to Moses, "See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship" (Exodus 31:1-5). God gives us wisdom for the work we are involved in. This wisdom is actually an outworking of the Holy Spirit who resides in us.
Now, if God has given us the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom for work, why does the church seem to consider the workplace believer as a second class Christian? It almost seems like, if you are not involved in any of the church's ministries then you are not really a Christian or at least a 'strong' Christian. As a result, the church has not set out to equip those of its members who are in the workplace. Very rarely, do you hear sermons about how one is to conduct themselves in the workplace and how they can be an influence for the kingdom of God. Yet that is where the majority of the church can be found, in the workplace. It is also the place where they spend the majority of their time (5 days of the week) compared to the few hours spent at church on Sunday.
I think it is time the church starts teaching about God's perspective of work and equip the workplace believer. That way, we will become good stewards of the blessing God has given us.
Now that I think of it, I think I will put a proper write-up on this subject on my other blog (Dei Gratia) soon. But for now, these are my thoughts.
Bless..
Consider Huram, the master craftsman of bronze in whom Solomon entrusted much of the temple designs. He was a true master craftsman (see 1 Kings 7:14).
Good read. Interesting that you point out that the majority of our time is spent in the work place. As a result of this,I think too, that alot of hindrances or hardships are presented to us in the workplace eg the competition might stir envy, there are issues of bribes, etc...and really true, the need for such issues to be tackled; how does a christian handle all this?
ReplyDeleteI like the emphasis too, on wisdom being granted for work because, yes, as it is an act of service to God and others too, it ought to be done in a wise manner. Serving BOTH in the workplace and church, if done in such a way as to stretch ourselves too much can be harmful to our Christian walk and no skill will be acquired if one is to try to do everything. Difference will probably just be that the one serving in the church might be applauded in the Christian community while the other may not, again because of what we think work is.
In some extreme cases working hard has simply been equated to the love of money which is the root of sin. And maybe that's why a christian at the work place is seen as a second class christian...
In terms of doing it as unto the Lord, my personal experience has led me to think that, that is the only way work should be done. If it is done any other way, sooner or later someone will notice that you are not giving the work the best you've got and there is someone else willing to. But if you do, well,no one will set aside a diligent hard worker,except in a few, rare occasions. If one wants guaranteed success in the work place therefore, it is the only way. Sometimes, true, the effort is not seen by others, but if you keep at it( and I have known others to do so for years), God will reward you for that service.
I have enjoyed this, looking forward to the next.
I like a banner inside the church at Word Alive Blantyre as you leave the church, on the doors leading out it says "you are now entering your mission field"... meaning out of the church is where you do a lot of the work for the kingdom, that is if you are not called to any of the 5 fold ministry... and so the church's aim should be to equip you for this.. not just winning souls but also how you are to be a true ambassador for Christ.. and hence dealing with the hindrances and hardships of the workplace and doing your work as unto the Lord...
Deleteinteresting what you said about working hard being equated to the love of money... I believe being slothful has been classified as one of the 7 deadly sins... and Jesus gives us an example of being a very hard worker... as was Paul who not only preached the gospel but continued in his trade of tent making to supply for his needs.. and Solomon who in Proverbs tells us to learn from the ant... I think the issue would be what motivates you to work hard.. is it for your own gain... I could go off here.. but maybe I do it on another post :)
thanks for your thoughts... I hope to write more on this area soon :)
bless