“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NLT)
On some levels it seemed odd to me that the only job I could find after my divorce was selling cars. And realizing that car salespersons ranked right up there with bank robbers and thugs, I determined that I would be as transparent and honest as I could be. Though I got off to a slow start, the Lord blessed my efforts and allowed me to win a contest that enabled me to take my then 16-year-old daughter to the Bahamas for a vacation. The dealership paid for my trip and gave me $500 spending money, which was a generous amount in those days.
It taught me that whatever I did vocationally, if it gave me opportunities to honor the Lord, it became an avenue of doing the Lord’s work. There were at least two avenues of influence the Lord gave me in the secular jobs I had. One was with my co-workers and the second was with my customers.
When the Lord is leading us, we can always exalt and honor Him when we develop a work ethic that is Christ centered. It became quickly apparent when my co-workers learned I’d been a Pastor that they were watching and scrutinizing my every move, but it also gave me opportunity to make friends quickly when they found out I wasn’t going to “preach” to them or criticize their every move.
The point is, wherever we work it can become a mission field when we allow the Lord Jesus to open our heart and eyes to see what He sees. Tim Keller wrote: “Our vocations are one avenue for doing God’s work in the world.” But the reality is, our vocations are only one of many avenues of opportunity to do God’s work.
Ministry is any place we are, knowing the Lord is already there. Everyplace we go we intersect God investing Himself in the hearts and lives of needy people. What constitutes a “needy” person? If they have a pulse they have needs. Every person needs Jesus and even those who profess faith in Him have weaknesses and frailties that prevent us from being all the Lord died to enable us to be.
Taking time on a break at work or even in the course of working with someone or some group of persons on a project gives us opportunity to let the light of Christ’s love and life shine through us. Are we helpful, cooperative, patient, supportive, have a positive attitude, and many other ways can exhibit the character of Christ without ever using His holy Name.
Treating people disrespectfully because they use foul language, are crude, or in many other ways upset our sensibilities is to cease to be Jesus in that environment. Do you dare believe Jesus never encountered irreverent, blasphemous, and difficult people? Yet, He never demeaned them or disrespected them because it wasn’t in His nature to act that way.
Every avenue of our lives is an avenue of doing God’s work – our home, family, neighbors, church, small groups, recreation, as well as work can all be significant avenues of potential “work” for the Lord. Love is one of the most significant ways we do ministry whatever scenario the Lord places us in. And sometimes the hardest place to love like Jesus is in our own homes.
It’s ironic that the people who know us best cut us the least slack, thus, are often the hardest to consistently love like Jesus loves. Perhaps that’s why He intentionally placed us in families. If we can learn to be authentic in our love for Jesus in our own families, I believe the other settings are the proverbial “pieces of cake.”
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 