“But Jesus replied, ‘My Father is always working, and so am I.’” (John 5:17 NLT)
Work is a gift and a privilege, not only giving us a means of making a living, but an avenue of witness for our Savior we too often ignore or underplay. Work existed in the Garden before sin entered the picture and was never intended to be punishment, but to give us a sense of fulfillment. Work is an honorable means of not only being productive but giving visibility to our faith and dependence upon our Lord.
David Jeremiah wrote: “Our attitude and our actions in the workplace are a witness to the people who watch us. We must guard our work ethic so that people won’t say negative things about our Lord. Work heartily at whatever you do for Christ’s sake. There are no little jobs when the Lord is giving the assignment!” (See Turning Point In the Workforce -09-16-24)
From my pre-teen years until this moment, I’ve sought to be productive by being invested in some type of work. Some I have thoroughly enjoyed, as in this season of my life, and some were painful and pure agony, but without exception the Lord has used whatever work I’ve done to build my character and to, hopefully, honor and exalt Himself.
On some levels work is like school, in the sense we can meet those with whom we may become life-long friends. Of course, as a Jesus follower it’s critical that we not only build friendships and working relationships but earn what we’re paid. “Lazy” and “Christian” should never be used in the same sentence. Neither should “gossip” and “Christian” ever be used together in reference to someone who genuinely loves Jesus.
It’s been said that someone who will talk about someone else TO you, will talk about YOU to others. Gossip is an evil, no-win game to play and has no part in a believer’s life; however, and I admit there can be a thin line here, if you’re a supervisor or otherwise a person in authority, those under you or your employees may need to let you know of genuine concerns with their co-workers.
Another consideration regarding work is highlighted in this comment by David Platt: “The gospel brings significant meaning to the seemingly mundane and provides a supreme purpose for every employee and employer on the planet.” We can get very frustrated when we think the work we’re doing is “beneath” us, that somehow the Lord has made a big mistake putting us in “THIS” job, or with “THIS” person.
One of the boldest and bravest acts of service ever carried out in the Scriptures, other than Jesus’ allowing Himself to be hung on a tree, dying a criminal’s death, is described in Luke 7: “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard He (Jesus) was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them.”
In light of what Jesus has done as He completed His “work” on our behalf, we dare not see any act of service, whether in our work or otherwise, as below us, or feel we are “too good” for “that!” Jesus was the only perfect human being to ever live and if He didn’t think He was too good to hang exposed on a cross to pay the penalty for my sin, you’d better believe there’s NOTHING I wouldn’t do for Him.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 