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Work

Am I working hard for Jesus? Am I working as hard as the Apostle Paul?

Or am I hardly working? Am I taking it easy, letting others carry the burden?

We all know what hard work is like. We all know what it is like to “hoof it” and be lazy. Many days it is just too easy. We pay the ministers to do their job. The contribution we make to the homeless shelter surely means they will help that man I see on street corner. The hospital will take care of that sick person. I don’t have to live out the message of Good News do I?

God expects us to work hard for His message. The power of the Holy Spirit makes it easy when we focus on what God wants and not our desire to take it easy.

Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the good news [gospel] together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. [1]

Philippians 4:3

Work is ordained by God. God works. God created us in his image. Work is good. We are blessed when we work. It is not about the pay. It is about bringing glory to God who knows what he is doing. Work is ordained by God. If God places us in a position of leadership because we have a servant’s heart and place ourselves last, we will show others that work is ordained by God.

So, God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.”

Genesis 1:27–28 (CSB)

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Good news: God works. God shows us the way. Work, in the Jesus Way, is good and virtuous. Work is the norm. We work most the time with a day off. That creates a rhythm in our life.

The goal is to work and be productive. Work leads to fulfillment. Fulfillment leads to wisdom. That is a very good thing. We control our work. In the Jesus way, work does not control us. We are at peace. After our work is done, we wait to hear “Well done you good and faithful slave.”

  • Exodus 20:9 (CSB) — 9 You are to labor six days and do all your work,
  • Psalm 104:23 (CSB) — 23 Man goes out to his work and to his labor until evening.

God can do anything: God could have made a world where we do not work. In his sovereignty, that is not what he chose to do. God knows the value of work. God knows it is good for us. God did it for his glory. That is what we need to know and to focus on every day. God gave us this work. Let us be excellent in it.

Consider this: It is important to our faith at work that we live out an attitude that work is good. We should respect those who work hard and produce excellent results.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Php 4:3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

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