Pastor's Desk
July 9, 2006
MANY OF US spend a significant part of our lives at work. We go to work to earn money so we can take care of various needs for ourselves and our families. We may take some of our earnings to save for future emergencies. Some we give away to those in need or to invest in the kingdom of God. Earning money is important for all of these reasons, but work is also more than earning money. Work is also about the relationships you have with people, the contributions you make to society through work either directly or indirectly, and the sense of satisfaction that a job well done brings to your life.
We are created to work and God’s intention was that we enjoy our work. When we enjoy our work we are blessed and actually become a blessing to others. But in a fallen world, work can become drudgery and a hardship. That is part of the curse that resulted from sin entering the world. As Christians, however we have been redeemed from the curse through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:13). Jesus said that he has come so that we may have life to the full (John 10:10). As heirs of the salvation he has provided, we can call on God to bless our work. Every work of a Christian can be infused with meaning by the blessing of God. Whether it is washing pots and pans, or directing a large corporation, we can call on God to add his blessing to our work. As our ultimate boss, it is for his glory and honour that we perform the simplest or most complex task. In this way our work becomes our worship. This revelation can bring great joy to everything we do. In this the writer of Ecclesiastes is right: "A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God," (Ecclesiastes 2:24)
And as Christ-followers we can add to our work the eternal value that our relationship with Jesus Christ brings. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men," (Colossians 3:23)
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May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
This page was last updated on Friday, July 7, 2006