Work can be enjoyable, rewarding, exhausting or challenging, sometimes
because of the people with whom we must work with, rather than the work
itself. When we use our God-given skills, all work can be an act of worship.
When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only, miraculous God-given son
Isaac, he took some servants to travel the long way with them. Gen. 22:5 tells
the following about them reaching the foot of the mountain – “Stay here with
the donkey,” Abraham told his servants. “The boy and I will go over there to
WORSHIP, and then we will return to you.” Abraham’s challenge and most
difficult act of obedience became an ACT OF WORSHIP.
Recently I read some great student quotes from ABTS (Theological seminar)
which I studied under – “Work itself—when done with excellence—is an
act of worship. In God’s eyes, there’s no divide; everything we do, including
our work, is sacred.” – Boney (India)
“…there is no hierarchy of importance between working in the church or in the
business sector. All work matters to God.” (Pastor Jojo, a Filipino pastor
serving in the UAE)
So often we think that our work is in vain, or that we are not making an
impression on Christ’s Kingdom where we work, but Christ wastes NOTHING. He
uses all we are and do for our good and for His glory WHEN WE ARE TOTALLY
COMMITTED TO HIM and willing to do His will. Col. 3:23 + 24 says – “Whatever
you do, work at it with ALL your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human
masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a
reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Our workplaces might be in our homes, or in an office, factory, school room,
church, hospital, restaurant, construction work or other places, but our work
environment is where we need to intentionally practice letting Jesus live His life
through us, bringing honour and glory to Him first and foremost. When we do
this, our work will become sacred and beautiful, and challenges will become
easier.
When Jesus commissioned His followers to go out and win souls and heal the
sick, none of them were missionaries or pastors. Later some of them became
leaders of churches, but most of them were ordinary people. When we do our
work with integrity and intentionally build relationships with others, or with
family members; Jesus is actively involved when we trust Him and use sweet
Holy Spirit presence to guide and help us. Work can become our mission field
when we allow Christ to live His life through us.
Precious Lord Jesus, please help me to obey Col. 3:17 which says – “And
whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Please help me, that my
work and all I do, is not the centre of my identity, but that You remain that
centre and my identity. May my work become an act of worship, which will
glorify You and win others to You. Please help me to find purpose in my work
and to clothe myself with Your loving compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.
Myrtle Turunen