Work matters. Your work matters. Tragically, most Christians have an impoverished view of what is happening between 9 and 5. It certainly doesn’t measure up to what God thinks about work. Here are six big ideas that change Mondays.
Work is a privilege. In the beginning…. God worked. He created everything everywhere. That was work. Work – the way in which we make ourselves useful to others – is a good thing. God is still working today and we will have the privilege of working in heaven. Most people today don’t value their work. A recent Gallup poll found that 53% of all people in the workplace are “not personally engaged in their jobs” – they may be productive but they have no passion for their work and find no meaning in it. Another 22% are “actively disengaged” with their jobs – meaning they aren’t even looking to be productive. This is not God’s view. God values work. Sure it’s been affected by the fall, but it’s still a privilege.
Working is a necessary part of flourishing. We were created to work. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are also commanded to work. Exodus 20:8 may advocate Sabbath rest, but only after instructing us to work the first six days of the week. Yes, we work to live, but more fundamentally we live to work. Work is a basic human need.
Tim Keller says it well: Work is as much a basic human need as food, beauty, rest, friendship, prayer and sexuality; it is not simply medicine but food for our soul. Without meaningful work we sense significant inner loss and emptiness.
Those who do not work generally make a mess of their lives – especially men.
We all work for God. All lawful work is part of a divine calling – it is sacred. The CEO of your company may have a different name, but ultimately it’s God himself. So, we must do all of our work as if we are working for the Lord (Colossian 3:17). And we must recognize that all work is equally valid. Church work is not more important than “secular” work. God cares about Monday just as much as he cares about Sunday. We all work for God.
We work for each other. God wants life to work – he want us to flourish – and this only happens when we serve each other with our work. We are unbelievably dependant on each other. Think about it: you woke up on a bed you didn’t make, under covers you didn’t make to an alarm clock you didn’t make; you put on clothes you didn’t make; you got in a car you didn’t build; you drove on roads you didn’t build. We depend on each other. This is God’s design, and it is why he disburses gifts throughout the church – so that we can help each other.
We work for work. The work itself has value. What you do matters. Part of being made in the image of God – with creative abilities – is that everything about you matters, including your work. Don’t go to work just to make money. And don’t go to work just to invite people to church. Go to work to work – because the work itself matters.
We want to find the work we were called to and do it well. Do not sit around waiting to find the “perfect job.” It doesn’t exist. But recognize that God has prepared you for certain kinds of work. And He does give assignments. We should seek out our calling and lean into it.